欧博Knee replacement infection: Symptoms and risk fa
There is a range of treatments for a knee replacement infection, including both nonsurgical and surgical procedures.
Nonsurgical treatment
Some knee replacement infections are superficial, which means that the infection has reached the skin and tissue around the joint but does not affect the artificial joint itself.
A superficial knee replacement infection may be treated with oral or intravenous (IV) antibiotics.
Surgical treatment
If a knee replacement infection goes deeper than the skin and tissue around a joint, it may need to be treated surgically. Surgical treatment options include:
Debridement: This is a surgical washout of the joint. Any contaminated soft tissue is removed, and the artificial joint is cleaned. Plastic liners or spacers in the artificial joint may be replaced. The doctor will prescribe IV antibiotics to be taken after surgery.
Staged surgery: This involves a series of surgeries to remove and replace the artificial joint. This may be necessary if the infection has developed months or years after the original knee replacement.
The different stages of staged surgery typically include:
Removal of the artificial joint: When the infection is deep and long-lasting, the artificial joint will need to be removed.
Joint washout: Washing helps get rid of infected soft tissue in the joint.
Placement of antibiotic spacer: This helps maintain joint space and keeps the joint aligned while the infection is treated.
IV antibiotics: These help kill the infection. The doctor may prescribe a course that lasts up to 6 weeks.
New knee replacement surgery: Once the infection has been treated, another knee replacement surgery can be carried out. The doctor will remove the antibiotic spacer and give the person a new artificial knee joint.