bTwo-staged exchange with delayed reimplantation of a new prosthesis is considered by many to be the preferred method of treatment for deep periprosthetic infection after total hip arthroplasty. Until recently, most authors of previously published reports of this two-staged exchange procedure have used cemented implants fixed with antibiotic-containing bone cement. In view of the superior results of revision total hip arthroplasties with cementless implants, we reviewed the results of 33 two-staged revision total hip arthroplasties done for deep infection using cementless femoral components. There were no recurrent infections in the 28 patients in this study who had a 2-year minimum followup. Two patients developed a new infection with a different organism after reimplantation of their hip. Three patients with considerable acetabular bone deficiency had acetabular component revision for aseptic loosening; however, there were no cases of femoral component loosening. The overall infection rate of 7% using this approach was comparable to previous reports of two-staged revision total hip arthroplasties done with cemented components fixed with antibiotic-containing bone cement. In addition, cementless femoral component fixation seemed to be more reliable and durable in comparison to previous reports of revision total hip arthroplasty with cemented stems. The results of this study support the continued use of cementless implant fixation for two-staged reconstruction of the infected total hip arthroplasty.
Level of evidence: Therapeutic study, Level IV-1 (case series). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.