Utilizing a Prefabricated Antibiotic-Impregnated Articular Spacer Combined With an Intramedullary Device for Significant Femoral Bone Loss in Periprosthetic Hip Infection.

Abstract

Periprosthetic joint infection can be a devastating complication following total hip arthroplasty, which often requires a lengthy treatment course that is fraught with complications. There are various types of antibiotic-impregnated spacers that can be used to treat periprosthetic hip infections, with articulating spacers being utilized frequently with the goal of preserving patient range of motion and functionality. Many of these articulating spacers have pre-set sizes and stem options, which accommodate the majority of patients. However, when significant femoral bone loss is evident at the time of revision surgery, many articulating spacer options are not sufficient to provide stability, and custom modifications of available spacer constructs may be needed to fill the bony void. The goal of this article is to report a surgical technique that can be used in the salvage of failed antibiotic-impregnated spacers where severe femoral bone loss is present.