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Intrawound vancomycin powder increases post-operative wound complications and does not decrease periprosthetic joint infection in primary total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties

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Knee Surgery, Sports Traumatology, Arthroscopy Aims and scope

Abstract

Purpose

A frequent reason for revision surgery after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). The efficacy of intrawound VP in preventing PJI after primary TKA or UKA is rarely reported. The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and side effects of local high-dose VP application to the joint to prevent PJI in TKA and UKA.

Methods

From 2010 to 2017, 166 consecutive patients that underwent primary TKA or UKA were enrolled. Seventy-five patients (92 knees) did not receive VP (control group), while 90 patients (110 knees, VP group) received VP (intrawound, 1 g) before capsule closure during TKA and UKA. Aseptic wound complications, such as skin erosion, wound dehiscence, and prolonged wound healing, were evaluated within 3 months post-operatively. PJI was assessed within a year post-operatively.

Results

Seven patients (7.6%) in the control group and five patients (4.5%) in the VP group had PJI. No significant differences existed in the PJI rates between the groups. Aseptic operative wound complications occurred in 4 patients (4.3%) and 13 patients (11.8%), whereas prolonged operative wound healing occurred in 3 patients (3.3%) and 14 patients (12.7%) of patients in the control and VP group, respectively. Operative wound complications were significantly frequent in the VP group.

Conclusions

Intrawound VP administration does not decrease PJI occurrence in primary TKA and significantly causes aseptic wound complications. The use of intrawound VP for the prevention of PJI after primary TKA and UKA is not recommended.

Level of evidence

Level II.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Eisaku Okada who is a statistician for his help of calculation of statistical analysis.

Funding

This study was not externally funded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, 1-20-1 Handayama, Higashi-ku, Hamamatsu, 431-3192, Japan

    Mitsuru Hanada, Shoichi Nishikino, Kensuke Hotta, Hiroki Furuhashi, Hironobu Hoshino & Yukihiro Matsuyama

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  1. Mitsuru Hanada
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  2. Shoichi Nishikino
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  3. Kensuke Hotta
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  4. Hiroki Furuhashi
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  6. Yukihiro Matsuyama
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Correspondence to Mitsuru Hanada.

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Ethical approval

The study was approved by the ethics committee of Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (No. 18-283).

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Hanada, M., Nishikino, S., Hotta, K. et al. Intrawound vancomycin powder increases post-operative wound complications and does not decrease periprosthetic joint infection in primary total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasties. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 27, 2322–2327 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00167-019-05498-z

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