Outcomes of Revision Hip Replacement After Resection Arthroplasty With a Non-Free Muscle Flap Transfer for Difficult-To-Treat Periprosthetic Infection

Abstract

Background. Resection arthroplasty with non-free muscle flap transfer allows to quickly eliminate the infection, but resulting in functional impairment of hip joint. To date, there are only a few publications with a small number of observations, where the proportion of patients who underwent the second stage of the revision hip arthroplasty (rTHA) is extremely small.
 The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of resection arthroplasty on the functional outcomes and incidence of adverse outcomes in patients with difficult-to-treat (DTT) periprosthetic infection who had previously undergone resection arthroplasty with a non-free transfer of the axial flap fom the vastus lateralis muscle.
 Methods. The prospective study included 24 patients. During the period 20112021, at the first stage of the treatment for chronic recurrent DTT PJI of the hip, resection arthroplasty was performed with a non-free transfer of an island flap from the vastus lateralis muscle. Subsequent reimplantation of the endoprosthesis was performed in at least 1 year after the infection remission. The functional outcomes, degree of the lower limb shortening immediately before and in two or more years after revision arthroplasty (rTHA), the results of the microbiological cultures at the first and second stages of PJI treatment, technical aspects of the surgery as well as the postoperative period and long-term PJI remission were studied.
 Results. Revision arthroplasty resulted in a statistically significant improvement of the postoperative functional outcome and quality of life in patients. The average Harris score agter rTHA increased from 53 to 83 points after surgery, EQ-5D degree of the quality of life increased from 50 points to 80, the overall score from 0.61 to 0.74 and average intensity of pain via VAS decreased from 3 points to 1 point in 3.1 years after rTHA (p0.05). After reEP, complete restoration of the limb length was achieved in 29.1% of cases (n = 7) with an average compensation of the limb length for 4.5 cm. In 66.7% of patients (n = 16), the results of the intraoperative tissue biopsy microbiological analysis during reEP were culture negative. The recurrence rate of PJI was 12.5% (n = 3) up to 30 days after rTHA and 4.2% (n = 1) with a follow-up period of 3.1 years (IQR 2.14.1). With a single revision surgery performed without a delay, stable remission of DTT PJI was 95.8%.
 Conclusion. Complex two-stage surgical treatment using resection arthroplasty with a non-free muscle flap transfer at the stage of debridement and subsequent revision has demonstrated high efficiency in eliminating the infectious process as well as restoring weight-bearing capacity and extremity function. It could be recommended as a method of choice in the treatment of patients with DTT PJI of hip joint.