Usefulness of adding antibiotic to cement in one stage exchange of chronic infection in total hip arthoplastia

BACKGROUNDS AND OBJECTIVE: Direct exchange using antibiotic-impregnated cement is a treatment option for hip prosthesis infection (HPI) Nevertheless, a local antibiotic use is not always possible. We present our experience with direct exchange with and without antibiotic-impregnated cement. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Fourteen patients with a HPI were treated with direct exchange. The femoral component was cemented with an antibiotic in 7 cases and in 7 it was not cemented. The patients received antibiotic prophylaxis and antibiotic treatment for a mean of 3 months. Clinical evolution of the infection was prospectively assessed. RESULTS: There were no differences with regard to the clinical and microbiologic characteristics between both groups. In the last control (minimum 2 years) all the patients were cured. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that direct exchange without local antibiotic is an option in HPI. Further studies are needed to evaluate the usefulness of antibiotic loaded cement.