Patient satisfaction and functional status after aseptic versus septic revision total knee arthroplasty using the PROSTALAC articulating spacer.

Abstract

This study compared the functional results of an articulating antibiotic spacer for 2-stage revision knee arthroplasty for infection, to the functional results of aseptic revision. One hundred twenty-five patients who underwent revision of total knee arthroplasty for infection and aseptic loosening were identified. All of the patients with infection were treated with the PROSTALAC system (DePuy). At a minimum 2-year follow-up, WOMAC, Oxford-12, SF-12, patient satisfaction data, Harris Hip Score knee scores, and range of motion were assessed. The 2 cohorts (4 deaths in total, leaving 54 septic, 57 aseptic) were equivalent for age, gender, and comorbidity scores. At a mean of 41 months, none of the outcomes were significantly worse for the septic group, which had 2 recurrences of infection (4%). The satisfactory functional results of the PROSTALAC system may be related to the design features.