Novel, static, permanent spacers to treat chronic knee periprosthetic joint infections

PURPOSE: To discuss a static and permanent spacer in the treatment of chronic periprosthetic knee infection. Methods In this study, patients who were diagonised with chronic periprosthetic knee infection and not appropriate to undergo revision operations were included and were treated with static and permanent spacers. Infection recurrence rate was recorded, Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score and Knee Society Score (KSS) were used to record patients’ pain and knee function before the operation and at the final follow-up (minimum 24 months). RESULTS: Fifteen patients were identified for this study. Pain and function were significantly improved at the latest follow-up evaluation. One patient had a recurrent infection and underwent amputation. No patients had signs of residual instability at the final follow-up evaluation, and no breakage or subsidence of the antibiotic spacer were identified at the final radiographic follow-up evaluation. CONCLUSION: Our study provided evidence that the static and permanent spacer was a reliable salvage procedure to treat periprosthetic knee infection in compromised patients.