Case: A 54-year-old man underwent total knee arthroplasty, during which organic plant material was incidentally discovered within the prepatellar bursa. A combination of high-dose antibiotic-loaded bone cement to implant primary components and an extended course of postoperative antibiotics were used to lower the risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). One year after operation he remains infection-free with improved mobility and decreased pain.
Conclusion: Presented with the risk of unexpected tissue contamination, the team used both high-dose antibiotic cement and a course of postoperative antibiotic therapy. This infection prevention strategy is a reasonable course of action in patients at high risk for primary PJI.
Copyright © 2021 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.