Infected Knee Research Articles

Outcomes, Complications, and Eradication Rates of Two-Stage Revision Surgery for Periprosthetic Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, and Knee Infections: A Systematic Review

Outcomes, Complications, and Eradication Rates of Two-Stage Revision Surgery for Periprosthetic Shoulder, Elbow, Hip, and Knee Infections: A Systematic Review

Synovial vancomycin and meropenem concentrations in periprosthetic joint infection treated by single-stage revision combined with intra-articular infusion.

We aimed to determine the concentrations of synovial vancomycin and meropenem in patients treated by single-stage revision combined with intra-articular infusion following periprosthetic joint infection (PJI), thereby validating this drug delivery approach. We included 14 patients with PJI as noted in their medical records between November 2021 and August 2022, comprising eight hip and seven knee joint infections, with one patient experiencing bilateral knee infections. The patients underwent single-stage revision surgery, followed by intra-articular infusion of vancomycin and meropenem (50,000 µg/ml). Synovial fluid samples were collected to assess antibiotic concentrations using high-performance liquid chromatography. The peak concentrations of vancomycin and meropenem in the joint cavity were observed at one hour post-injection, with mean values of 14,933.9 µg/ml (SD 10,176.3) and 5,819.1 µg/ml (SD 6,029.8), respectively. The trough concentrations at 24 hours were 5,495.0 µg/ml (SD 2,360.5) for vancomycin and 186.4 µg/ml (SD 254.3) for meropenem. The half-life of vancomycin was 6 hours, while that of meropenem ranged between 2 and 3.5 hours. No significant adverse events related to the antibiotic administration were observed. This method can achieve sustained high antibiotic concentrations within the joint space, exceeding the reported minimum biofilm eradication concentration. Our study highlights the remarkable effectiveness of intra-articular antibiotic infusion in delivering high intra-articular concentrations of antibiotics. The method provided sustained high antibiotic concentrations within the joint cavity, and no severe side-effects were observed. These findings offer evidence to improve clinical treatment strategies. However, further validation is required through studies with larger sample sizes and higher levels of evidence.

Staged revision of the infected knee arthroplasty and endoprosthesis.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a challenging complication of any arthroplasty procedure. We reviewed our use of static antibiotic-loaded cement spacers (ABLCSs) for staged management of PJI where segmental bone loss, ligamentous instability, or soft-tissue defects necessitate a static construct. We reviewed factors contributing to their failure and techniques to avoid these complications when using ABLCSs in this context. A retrospective analysis was conducted of 94 patients undergoing first-stage revision of an infected knee prosthesis between September 2007 and January 2020 at a single institution. Radiographs and clinical records were used to assess and classify the incidence and causes of static spacer failure. Of the 94 cases, there were 19 primary total knee arthroplasties (TKAs), ten revision TKAs (varus-valgus constraint), 20 hinged TKAs, one arthrodesis (nail), one failed spacer (performed elsewhere), 21 distal femoral endoprosthetic arthroplasties, and 22 proximal tibial arthroplasties. A total of 35/94 patients (37.2%) had spacer-related complications, of which 26/35 complications (74.3%) were because of mechanical failure of the spacer construct, while 9/35 (25.7%) were due to recurrence of infection. Risk factors for internal failure were a construct where the total intramedullary spacer length was less than twice the length of the central osseous defect (p = 0.009), where proximal or distal intraosseous spacer contact was < 10%, and after tibial tubercle osteotomy (p = 0.005). The incidence of spacer complications significantly increased the time to second stage: mean 157 days (42 to 458) in those without complications versus 227 days (11 to 528) with complications (p = 0.014). The failure rate of static antibiotic-loaded cement spacers is much higher than anticipated. Complications of the spacer significantly increased the time to second-stage revision. The risk of mechanical failure is significantly increased if the spacer is less than double the size of the segmental defect, or if inadequate reinforcement is inserted into the residual bone. These findings serve as a guide for surgeons to avoid mechanical complications with static spacers.

Microbiology, Treatment, and Postoperative Outcomes of Gram-Negative Prosthetic Joint Infections-A Systematic Review of the Literature.

Gram-negative prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) represent 10% to 25% of all PJIs and are associated with worse outcomes than gram-positive infections. We sought to assess the microbiology, surgical treatment, and outcomes of patients with gram-negative PJIs. A systematic review using the PubMed and Embase databases was conducted. Our study was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. Included studies were assessed for quality using the STROBE checklist. The primary outcome of analysis was treatment failure. A total of 593 patients with gram-negative PJIs were included. Two-year survival free of treatment failure for hip and knee PJIs was 66% and 68% for acute infections, 39% and 78% for acute hematogenous infections, and 75% and 63% for chronic infections, respectively. Two-year survival free of treatment failure for acute infections treated with débridement, antibiotics, and implant retention was 65% and 67% for hip and knee PJIs, respectively. Exchange of the polyethylene during débridement, antibiotics, and implant retention was associated with higher treatment success (P = 0.045). Chronic PJIs treated with two-stage revision had a two-year treatment success rate of 87% and 65% for the hip and knee, respectively. Risk factors of treatment failure were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and C-reactive protein ≥30 mg/L in acute PJIs and female sex, knee infection, and previously revised implant in chronic PJIs. Acute PJIs caused by Pseudomonas spp. were associated with lower treatment failure rates. Gram-negative PJIs are associated with a high treatment failure rate. Patient comorbidities, preoperative biochemical tests, microorganism etiology, and PJI characteristics affected the treatment success rate.

Can a 1.5-Stage Revision be an Effective Alternative for Chronic Periprosthetic Hip and Knee Infections? A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

BackgroundA 1.5-stage revision could be an alternative to a 2-stage revision for treating hip and knee chronic periprosthetic infections, guaranteeing the maintenance of joint function and infection control and preventing infection-free patients from undergoing further surgery. Our systematic review aimed to answer several questions about the indication, the infection eradication rate, and the long-term functional outcome of 1.5-stage revisions used to treat chronic periprosthetic infections of the hip and knee. MethodsA systematic review of the literature was performed following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, including studies dealing with the use of 1.5-stage and two-stage surgery for chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) or total hip arthroplasty (THA). The Coleman Methodology Score and the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) score were used to assess the quality of the studies. A meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the infection eradication rate using either the 1.5-stage revision or the two-stage technique. A total of 494 patients (111 hips and 385 knees) who underwent 1.5-stage with a mean age of 69 years (range, 61 to 82) were identified in the ten included studies. ResultsThe most common cause of reoperation was the conversion to the definitive prosthesis, followed by aseptic loosening. Infection control was reached in 84.6% of the 1.5-stage and 76.1% of the two-stage cohorts. The infection recurrence rate was higher in the two-stage cohort than the 1.5-stage group (21.8 versus 14.3%). ConclusionThe 1.5-stage technique represents a valid treatment option in selected patients who have chronic PJI who cannot undergo further surgeries, adding together the benefits of the one- and two-stage procedures. Furthermore, the 1.5-stage showed a better success rate in the infection resolution than the two-stage technique.

Operative Management of Pediatric Physeal Bar Development and Genu Valgum.

Pediatric orthopedic conditions present unique challenges due to ongoing skeletal growth and development. Managing these cases requires addressing both structural anomalies and functional deficits. This case report discusses a 13-year-old male with recurrent left knee pain exacerbated by physical activity. The patient's history of a left knee infection at 1.5 years of age, possibly septic arthritis or osteomyelitis, underscores the long-term consequences of early pathology on skeletal growth and alignment. Imaging studies revealed a distal lateral femur physis bar and genu valgum, necessitating surgical intervention. The surgery involved medial distal femur hemiepiphysiodesis and lateral distal femur bar excision to correct anatomical deformities and restore optimal limb alignment and function. Postoperative rehabilitation, including targeted exercises to improve quadriceps strength, was crucial for functional recovery and reducing the risk of complications such as medial patellofemoral pain. This case highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in managing complex pediatric orthopedic cases.

Micro-Computed Tomography Analysis of the Knee in Aged Dunkin-Hartley Guinea Pigs after Intra Articular Injection.

The purpose of this protocol is to guide researchers in performing a palpation-guided technique of intra-articular knee injection in guinea pigs and assessment using micro-computed tomography. Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs are robust models for osteoarthritis research as they spontaneously develop osteoarthritis in their knees. Intra-articular drug delivery is a common method to study the effects of an investigational drug in vivo. In humans, therapeutic agents administered via intra-articular injection can offer pain relief and delay further progression of osteoarthritis. As with any species, the introduction of a needle into a joint space has the potential to cause injury, which can result in pain, lameness, or infection. Such adverse events can compromise animal welfare, confound study results, and necessitate additional animals to achieve study objectives. As such, it is imperative to develop proper injection techniques to prevent complications, especially in longitudinal studies that require multiple, repeated intra-articular injections. Using the presented methodology, five guinea pigs received bilateral knee injections under general anesthesia. Seven days after injection, animals were humanely euthanized for analysis of osteoarthritis severity. No adverse events occurred following anesthesia or knee injections, including limping, pain, or infection. X-ray micro-computed tomography analysis of the knee can detect pathologic changes associated with osteoarthritis. Micro-computed tomography data indicates osteoarthritis is more severe in older animals, as indicated by increased bone mineral density and trabecular thickness with age. These results are consistent with histologic changes and Modified Mankin scores, an established and widely used scoring system to assess arthritis severity in these same animals. This protocol can be utilized to refine intra-articular injections in guinea pigs.

Candida parapsilosis in Late Prosthetic Joint Infections Among Immunocompetent Patients: A Case Series.

Fungal prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are very rare in immunocompetent patients. PJI can present either early, delayed, or as late chronic infections. Diagnosis of fungal PJI presenting late is challenging due to the difficulty in isolation as well as the clinical presentation very similar to an aseptic loosening. There are no clear guidelines regarding the management of these patients. We present five cases of Candida parapsilosis PJI presenting as late chronic infections. All five patients were culture-negative preoperatively, immunocompetent, and with good soft-tissue condition. There were three infected knee prostheses and two infected hip hemiarthroplasty. All of them were treated with extensive debridement, meticulous sampling, and extended culture. We treated all of them with long-term antifungals without any disease reactivation or recurrence till the last follow-up. Fungal infection should be suspected in immunocompetent patients presenting early with features of aseptic loosening but without typical signs of periprosthetic infection. Revision with long-term suppressive therapy can give good results in these patients.

Clinical Outcomes of Modified Suture Buttons for Tibial Side Fixation in Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: A Retrospective Comparative Study.

Introduction Restoring knee joint stability and resuming sports activities are important objectives of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. The maintenance of anterior knee stability after ACL reconstruction is contingent on graft tension. Various devices and techniques have been used to achieve robust tibial graft tendon fixation, and their advantages and disadvantages are established. However, a gold standard has not been established. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether anterior knee joint stability and clinical outcomes of graft tendon fixation could be improved using a recently modified suture button (MSB) compared with using an adjustable suspensory fixator (ASF) at 1 year after double-bundle ACL reconstruction. Methods This study retrospectively analyzed postoperative data derived from 79 patients at a single center between January 2016 and December 2021. The patients were assigned to groups that underwent double-bundle ACL reconstruction with tibial fixation using an MSB (n = 30) that maintains tension while tying sutures, or an ASF (n = 49). We then compared complications, clinical outcomes and knee joint stability at 1 year postoperatively. Rates of postoperative infection, graft rupture, implant removal and residual anterior knee laxity (AKL) were compared between the groups using chi-square tests. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROM) based on Forgot Joint Score-12, Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome, and Lysholm Knee scoreswere compared using Mann-Whitney U tests. Results One patient in the MSB group developed postoperative infection. Rates of graft rupture and implant removal in the MSB and ASF groups were 3.3% and 4.1%, and 3.6% and 10.2%, respectively. None of the PROMs differed between the groups. The proportions of postoperative AKL were 3.6% and 14.9% in the MSB and ASF groups, respectively. A trend towards lower postoperative AKL in the MSB group did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.25). Conclusions The incidence of AKL at a year after ACL reconstruction using the MSB was 3%. Postoperative AKL and clinical outcomes were comparable between the MSB and ASF groups. A low AKL rate and positive postoperative outcomes indicated that MSB could be an option for tibial-side fixation in ACL reconstruction.

Effect of Multiantibiotic-Loaded Bone Cement on the Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infections of Hip and Knee Arthroplasties-A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Two-stage septic revision is the prevailing method for addressing late periprosthetic infections. Using at least dual-antibiotic-impregnated bone cement leads to synergistic effects with a more efficient elution of individual antibiotics. Recent data on the success rates of multiantibiotic cement spacers in two-stage revisions are rare. We conducted a retrospective follow-up single-center study involving 250 patients with late periprosthetic hip infections and 95 patients with prosthetic knee infections who underwent septic two-stage prosthesis revision surgery between 2017 and 2021. In accordance with the antibiotic susceptibility profile of the microorganisms, a specific mixture of antibiotics within the cement spacer was used, complemented by systemic antibiotic treatment. All patients underwent preoperative assessments and subsequent evaluations at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, and 24 months post operation and at the most recent follow-up. During the observation period, the survival rate after two-step septic revision was 90.7%. Although survival rates tended to be slightly lower for difficult-to-treat (DTT) microorganism, there was no difference between the pathogen groups (easy-to-treat (ETT) pathogens, methicillin-resistant staphylococci (MRS), and difficult-to-treat (DTT) pathogens). Furthermore, there were no differences between monomicrobial and polymicrobial infections. No difference in the survival rate was observed between patients with dual-antibiotic-loaded bone cement without an additional admixture (Copal® G+C and Copal® G+V) and patients with an additional admixture of antibiotics to proprietary cement. Employing multiple antibiotics within spacer cement, tailored to pathogen susceptibility, appears to provide reproducibly favorable success rates, even in instances of infections with DTT pathogens and polymicrobial infections.

Corticosteroid Injections Within 2 Weeks After Knee Arthroscopy Are Associated With Increased Infection Risk

PurposeWe quantified the risk of 90-day postoperative infection following arthroscopy, stratified by specific time intervals of corticosteroid injection (CSI) postoperatively (0-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 4-6 weeks, and 6-8 weeks). MethodsA national, all-payer database was queried. In the primary and secondary analyses, the main outcome was infection at 90-days. Infection was defined by documentation of a septic knee or surgical-site infection according to International Classification of Disease (ICD) Ninth Revision (9) and Tenth Revision (10) codes, and Current Procedure Terminology (CPT) codes. ResultsIn the multivariable regression, the odds ratio (OR) of postoperative infection at 90-days was greater in the CSI injections within 0-<2 weeks (OR 3.31, 95% CI 1.85-5.92, P<0.001) and 2-<4 weeks (OR 2.72 95% CI 1.57-4.71, P=0.003) cohorts in comparison to the control group.When comparing CSI administered within 0-2 weeks to CSI administered within 2-4 weeks, there was a greater odds of postoperative infection (OR 2.50) at 90-days following arthroscopy. ConclusionCSI given within 2 weeks following knee arthroscopy increases the risk of postoperative infection the greatest whereas CSI given with 4 weeks increases the risk but to a lesser degree.

Comparable Results of Single and Two-Stage Exchange for Select Periprosthetic Hip and Knee Infection.

Although two-stage exchange has been the standard of care for periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in the United States, single-stage exchange is emerging as an option in select patients. The purpose of this study was to compare outcomes of patients undergoing single-stage and two-stage exchange using strict surgical indications. We reviewed a consecutive series of 196 patients with diagnosed PJI undergoing revision total knee and hip arthroplasty from 2017 to 2021. Patients were excluded if they had PJI history, plastic surgery coverage, or extensive bone loss requiring endoprosthesis. We compared the number of patients PJI-free at 1-year follow-up using MusculoSkeletal Infection Society criteria and patients requiring re-revision between the single-stage and two-stage groups. In total, 126 patients met inclusion criteria. Of 61 knee patients (48.4%), 22 underwent single-stage (36%) and 39 underwent two-stage (63.9%). Of 65 hip patients (51.6%), 38 underwent single-stage (58.5%) and 27 underwent two-stage (41.5%). At a mean follow-up of 1.95 ± 0.88 years, a higher rate of knee patients were classified as having treatment success in the single-stage group (77.3% versus 69.2%, P = 0.501), however with comparable septic failure rates (18.1% single-stage versus 17.9% two-stage; P = 0.982). At a mean follow-up of 1.81 ± 0.9 years, a higher rate of hip patients were classified as having treatment success in the single-stage group (94.7% versus 81.5%, P = 0.089), and more patients had septic failures in the two-stage group (18.5% versus 5.3%; P = 0.089). No differences were observed in the microorganism profile. More total complications (P = 0.021) and mortalities were found in the single-stage knee cohort than in the two-stage cohort (22.7% versus 2.6%; P = 0.011). Single-stage arthroplasty is a viable alternative to standard two-stage exchange in patients with PJI without a history of infection and with no bone or soft-tissue compromise. Additional studies with longer term follow-up are needed to evaluate its efficacy.

Implementation of Outpatient Parenteral Antimicrobial Therapy (OPAT) in Patients with Complicated Periprosthetic Joint Infections.

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) are a serious complication of arthroplasty with high morbidity. With growing bacterial resistance and limited disposability of oral antibiotics with sufficient bioavailability, the need for intravenous antibiotic application is raising. This causes long-term hospital stays and rising costs. In the course of transferring procedures into an outpatient setting as well as coping with pressures on hospital capacity, outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) can build a bridge for the treatment of such infections.In a single centre analysis, 47 cases treated with OPAT were studied in relation to pathogen, antimicrobial resistance, indication for OPAT and follow up. Furthermore, the patients received an anonymised questionnaire with 4 clusters of interest in terms of internal quality assessment on the success and evaluation of this therapeutic procedure. Special attention was paid to the descriptive analysis of patients with periprosthetic joint infections (n=30).Between May 2021 and October 2022 out of 47 patients with OPAT, 30 cases with periprosthetic joint infections were identified. For infected hip- and knee arthroplasties, a remarkable spectrum of pathogens was found. In hip infections highly resistant strains of Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococci were detected. In knee infections, the pathogens were more susceptible, but however highly virulent Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococci. Difficult to treat, mixed infections were found in both locations. The indication for OPAT was based in half of the cases on the high level of antimicrobial resistance, with availability of only parenteral applicable antibiotics. Further indications were mixed infections and difficult to treat pathogens, with flucloxacillin therapy as well as OPAT as the last therapeutic option. The questionnaire showed 96% patient satisfaction in terms of organisation and acceptance of this kind of therapy. Complications or unexpected outpatient/ hospital treatments were very rare in connection with OPAT. Two thirds of patients reported completion of the treatment. In the clinical follow up (average of 5.7 months), 96.6% of cases were declared free of infection. In one patient the infection persisted.OPAT is a safe and reliable therapeutic option for outpatients to continue parenteral antimicrobial treatment in joint infections. Due to increasing pressure on hospitals in terms of costs and capacity, this therapy offers an alternative to inpatient treatment. The indication for OPAT should be set individually, risk adjusted and not generalised for all patients. The outpatient sector needs financial and structural support for comprehensive roll-out of this treatment in Germany. A further focus should be on the prevention of periprosthetic joint infections. With the knowledge of the expected pathogens and the surgical resources, the standards should be adapted. The choice of the antibiotic should be specified and the intervals of application be shortened, according to the surgical course, in order to yield high levels of agent concentration in the surgical area. Further investigations are required to test the superiority of OPAT versus the oral administration of antibiotics in long-term observations as well as to define the necessary duration of OPAT.

Is there sufficient evidence to support the use of antibiotic holiday just before the second stage of an infected total hip or knee arthroplasty revision surgery?

The practice of implementing an antibiotic holiday before the second stage of hip or knee arthroplasty is currently controversial due to limited evidence for this approach, as per the International Consensus Meeting 2018 on Musculoskeletal Infection. A greater understanding of this issue could augment the quality of Alrayes and Sukeik's mini-review (2023) on diagnosing, managing, and treating periprosthetic knee infections. However, a significant lack of literature exists concerning the optimal duration for the antibiotic holiday, calling for more research before establishing any clinical guidelines.

The results of femoral lengthening using domestic unilateral external fixation and then plating: the first case series in Vietnam.

This study aimed to assess the results of femoral lengthening using an external fixator and then plating. This prospective case series study enrolled 11 patients who underwent femoral lengthening and then plating (LATP) between January 2019 and April 2023. The average age of patients was 14.45 ± 7.54 years. One patient with a femur was lengthened and plated, and one tibia was lengthened over a nail simultaneously. The average femoral lengthening was 8.41 ± 1.35cm. The femoral healing result was excellent in seven femurs and good in four femurs; the functional outcome was excellent in five patients and good in six patients. Pin-track infection occurred in all patients. A limited range of motion of knee flexion occurred in eight patients. Femoral varus and procurvatum deviation occurred during distraction in four and two patients. Femoral LATP was considered an attractive alternative to intramedullary lengthening nails in a low-income country. Our research suggests that femoral LATP was an effective method. However, the most common complications were pin-site infection and extensive knee contracture. Further research should be done with a larger sample size and longer follow-up time. Level IV-prospective observational case series study.

Effect of Surgeon Volume on Mechanical Complications after Resection Arthroplasty with Articulating Spacer.

Two-stage revision with an antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer is a standard treatment for chronic prosthetic knee infection (PKI); however, mechanical complications can occur during the spacer period. There is limited evidence on the association between surgeon volume and mechanical complications after resection arthroplasty (RA) using an articulating spacer. This study aimed to compare the rates of mechanical complications and reoperation after RA with articulating spacers by surgeons with high volumes (HV) and low volumes (LV) of RA performed and analyzed the risk factors for mechanical failure. The retrospective study investigated 203 patients treated with PKIs who underwent RA with articulating spacers and were divided according to the number of RAs performed by the surgeons: HV (≥14 RAs/year) or LV (<14 RAs/year). Rates of mechanical complications and reoperations were compared. Risk factors for mechanical complications were analyzed. Of the 203 patients, 105 and 98 were treated by two HV and six LV surgeons, respectively. The mechanical complication rate was lower in HV surgeons (3.8%) than in LV surgeons (36.7%) (p < 0.001). The reoperation rate for mechanical complications was lower in HV surgeons (0.9%) than in LV surgeons (24.5%) (p < 0.001). Additionally, 47.2% of patients required hinge knees after mechanical spacer failure. Medial proximal tibial angle < 87°, recurvatum angle > 5°, and the use of a tibial spacer without a cement stem extension were risk factors for mechanical complications. Based on these findings, we made the following three conclusions: (1) HV surgeons had a lower rate of mechanical complications and reoperation than LV surgeons; (2) mechanical complications increased the level of constraint in final revision knee arthroplasty; and (3) all surgeons should avoid tibial spacer varus malalignment and recurvatum deformity and always use a cement stem extension with a tibial spacer.

O papel paradoxal de Lactobacillus na saúde

The genus Lactobacillus is part of the normal microbiota, but is related to a variety of human infections, such as dental abscesses, bacteremia, cholecystitis, empyema, endocarditis, meningitis, peritonitis, prosthetic knee infection and pyelonephritis. Paradoxically, there is evidence of the effectiveness of using Lactobacillus in the form of probiotics for the prevention and treatment of diarrheal and inflammatory intestinal diseases, bacterial vaginosis, urinary and respiratory tract infections and even tooth decay. The present work aimed to demonstrate and discuss these contradictory roles of the genus Lactobacillus. For this, case reports, clinical trials, literature reviews and meta-analyses from the last 30 years were selected, using the keywords: Lactobacillus, Probiotics, Dental Caries, Diseases and Health. Different studies have demonstrated that the effects of probiotics can be specific to each strain and that the most effective strain for each clinical condition, its ideal dose, best form of administration and best time of use are still questionable. Furthermore, the existence of a pre-existing comorbidity or susceptible condition in the patient increases the risk of lactobacilli infections. Thus, it was concluded that, only after a careful investigation of the Lactobacillus strain and the patient, their oral and general conditions, probiotics containing these microorganisms could be used in a safer, more beneficial and more effective way.

Abscess Lodged Within the Sternocleidomastoid Muscle Secondary to Septic Arthritis

In deep neck space infections, structures within the fascial compartments may become compromised, leading to neurovascular, bony, or airway issues. Most commonly, infections of the oral cavity, face, or superficial neck spread through the lymphatics into the deeper tissues, causing lymphadenopathy and suppurative fluid collection leading to abscess formation. While some neck abscesses occur idiopathically, a retrospective review found that dental infection was the most common etiology (43%), followed by intravenous (IV) drug use (12%) and tonsillitis (6%). In contrast, our patient denied IV drug usage and had no significant medical or dental history that could account for her symptoms. Instead, she developed her neck abscess secondary to septic arthritis of the knee. Although synchronous localized infection of multiple sites is possible, cultures taken from the knee and the neck were both sensitive to Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), indicating that the abscess likely formed secondary to septic arthritis. Furthermore, the patient’s history of diabetes likely contributed to the progression of the infection. Rarely does a knee infection travel hematogenously and seed within the neck. Moreover, the abscess was lodged within the middle of the sternocleidomastoid muscle rather than within the fascial compartments. Physicians in the future should be aware of this distinct presentation of deep neck space abscesses.

Knee Arthrodesis for Periprosthetic Knee Infection: Fusion Rate, Complications, and Limb Salvage-A Systematic Review.

The aim of this systematic review was to investigate the outcomes of knee arthrodesis (KA) after periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) of the knee. Differences in clinical outcomes and complication rates among the intramedullary nailing (IMN), external fixation (EF), and compression plating (CP) procedures were compared. A total of 23 studies were included. Demographics, microbiological data, types of implants, surgical techniques with complications, reoperations, fusion, and amputation rates were reported. A total of 787 patients were evaluated, of whom 601 (76.4%), 166 (21%), and 19 (2.4%) underwent IMN, EF, and CP, respectively. The most common causative pathogen was coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CNS). Fusion occurred in 71.9%, 78.8%, and 92.3% of the patients after IMN, EF, and CP, respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found. Reinfection rates were 14.6%, 15.1%, and 10.5% after IMN, EF, and CP, respectively, and no statistically significant difference was found. Conversion to amputation occurred in 4.3%, 5%, and 15.8% of patients after IMN, EF, and CP, respectively; there was a higher rate after CP than after EF. The IMN technique is the most common option used for managing PJI with KA. No differences in terms of fusion, reinfection, or conversion-to-amputation rates were reported between IMN and EF. CP is rarely used, and the high amputation rate represents an important limitation of this technique.

The Effect of Spacer Treatment of Infected Hip and Knee Arthroplasties on Patients' Mental Health: A Narrative Review of the Literature.

The gold standard treatment for periprosthetic joint infections is the two-stage revision that includes the spacer placement before definitive reimplantation. The management of PJI affects patients' joint function and, subsequently, their mental health. Even though significant advances have been achieved, little to no attention has been paid to the psychological implications. So, based on standardized patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), this study aimed to clarify the effect of spacer treatment of infected hip and knee arthroplasties on patients' mental health. We performed research on the literature on PJIs in the English language using the MEDLINE database with the search strings "spacer" OR "spacers" AND "hip" OR "knee" AND "SF-12" OR "SF-36" OR "EQ-5" OR "mental" OR "depression" OR "anxiety." The reference lists of selected articles were also hand-searched for any additional articles. A total of 973 published papers were extracted, and 9 papers were finally included. A total of 384 patients who underwent spacer placement for PJI were identified. Of these 384 patients, 54% were female. The mean age ranged from 62 to 78.2 years. Of the11 papers identified for this review, 4 analyzed only hip spacers, including 119 patients; 4 only knee spacers, evaluating 153 patients; while a single study included 112 patients for both joints. Patients with the spacer are living in a state of mental upset, albeit better than the preoperative state. Clinical improvement with the review is not assured. The alteration of mental state turns out not to be transient for all the patients.