Extract
While infection after total knee arthroplasty is a relatively infrequent
complication (with a rate of 1% to
2%)1, it can be
devastating in terms of patient morbidity and institutional expenses. It has
been determined that the cost of treating an infection around a knee
replacement results in an estimated net loss of approximately $15,000, and
this loss may be doubled for a Medicare
patient2,3.
The drop in infection rates over the years secondary to improved prevention
efforts4 is
overshadowed by the dramatic increase in the number of joint replacements
being done annually in North America. In an effort to optimize patient care
and reduce the overall burden to the health-care system, physicians must
continue to improve strategies for treating infection in the presence of
prosthetic components. Such strategies should focus on establishing a rapid
and accurate diagnosis and developing clear and effective treatment algorithms
that yield favorable long-term results according to clearly defined
criteria.