After follow-ups ranging from two to five years on all but four (five
hips) of 2,694 patients who had 3,215 total hip arthroplasties, deep wound
infection had been demonstrated in forty-two hips (1.3 per cent). The
infections among the 3,210 hips appeared during the immediate postoperative
period or as long as five years after surgery. All operations were
performed in conventional operating rooms. Previous operations, prolonged
operating time, positive culture at operation, and unrecognized
preoperative sepsis were related to the development of deep infection. In
only eight of the forty-one patients (forty-two hips) was salvage of the
prosthetic arthroplasty possible. The deaths of tree patients were directly
attributable to the infection or its treatment.