Partial 2-Stage Exchange for Infected Total Hip Arthroplasty: An Updated Report

Management of an infected total hip arthroplasty (THA) is challenging. The eradication of infection as well as complications of component removal must all be considered. This study is an update on previous reports of treating periprosthetic infection of the hip with a partial 2-stage exchange with retention of the femoral component.

A retrospective review of our practice’s arthroplasty registry from 2000 to 2018 revealed 41 hips with 2-year minimum follow-up that were treated with a 2-stage partial exchange for an infected THA. All first-stage procedures allowed an articulating construct with 1 of 3 variations: cemented constrained liner (13 hips), StageOne Hip Cement Spacer Mold (14 hips), or an antibiotic polymethylmethacrylate head molded from a bulb syringe (14 hips). Of 41 cases, 34 were culture positive, with 3 cases having methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus.

Mean follow-up was 5.5 years (range, 1.5-18.5 years). The second-stage reimplantation was accomplished in 39 of the 41 hips (95%) at a mean interval of 9.2 weeks (range, 5-9 weeks). Two patients underwent repeat radical debridement with removal of all components before reimplantation for persistent clinical evidence of infection. Thirty-three of the 41 hips (81%) were infection free at most recent follow-up. The mean postoperative Harris hip score at most recent evaluation was 63.6 (range, 24-100).

Eradication of periprosthetic joint infections, while minimizing patient morbidity, continues to be a challenge. Partial 2-stage exchange may be considered in cases where removal of a well-fixed femoral component may result in significant bony destruction.