Comparison of Traditional Molded, First-Generation Premolded, and Second-Generation Premolded Antibiotic-Loaded Polymethylmethacrylate Articulating Spacers for Treatment of Chronic Prosthetic Joint Infection of the Knee.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare patients who had chronic prosthetic joint infection treated using three methods of articulating polymethylmethacrylate spacers in two-stage reimplantation. We identified 77 patients who had chronic prosthetic joint infection with a minimum of one-year follow-up. Reinfection rates were determined using modified International Consensus group criteria. The overall reinfection rate was 18% (14 of 77 patients). Despite a higher medical comorbidity in the second-generation spacer cohort, there were no statistical differences in reinfection rates between articulating spacer types. This study suggests that there were no differences in efficacy between the traditional molded, first-generation premolded, and second-generation premolded articulating spacers, but more studies with high level of evidence are needed.