PROTOCOL FOR TREATING ACUTE INFECTIONS IN CASES OF TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively evaluate the results after applying a protocol for treating acute infections in cases of total knee arthroplasty and to establish factors predictive of success or failure. METHODS: Thirty-two patients who were diagnosed with acute infection of the knee following total arthroplasty between 2004 and 2009 were retrospectively evaluated. Infections following arthroplasty were treated in accordance with the protocol for acute infections following arthroscopy recommended at our institution. RESULTS: With application of a treatment protocol for acute infections following total knee arthroplasty, 26 patients (81.2%) had good results and 6 (18.8%) had unsatisfactory results. Statistical analysis showed that the variables correlated with a worse prognosis were age (p = 0.038) and number of surgical debridement procedures performed (p = 0.038). CONCLUSION: Our treatment routine was effective for infection. Prosthesis revision was performed in 2 cases when the initial surgical debridement failed to control the infection. Nível de Evidência IV, Série de casos.