A new cement-spacer technique for treating an infected hip resurfacing
Two-stage exchange for infected resurfacing arthroplasty: use of a novel cement spacer technique
In simple words
Infection after hip replacement is a serious complication. It is usually treated in two stages, with a temporary antibiotic cement spacer in between. This case report describes a new spacer technique for an infected hip resurfacing.
What the study looked at
A single patient with an infected hip resurfacing, a type of hip replacement that caps the head of the thigh bone instead of using a stem inside it.
What it found
The new spacer avoided placing a stem in the thigh bone's inner canal, so the infection was not carried into it. The second-stage operation went routinely, and the patient was free of infection 9 months later.
Why it matters for patients
Choosing a spacer that suits the original implant can help keep infection from spreading. As a single case, it describes one outcome only.
Authors: Sharma AK, Gioe TJ, Nelson TE · J Arthroplasty 2011;26(6):976.e11–976.e15