Infection in the setting of shoulder arthroplasty can result in significant pain, loss of function, and the need for additional surgery. As the use of shoulder arthroplasty increases, the medical and economic burdens of periprosthetic joint infection increase as well. The ideal management of infected shoulder prostheses has not been established. This report describes 9 patients from a single in...

BACKGROUND Osteomyelitis is a challenge for orthopaedic surgeons. There is a lack of scientific evidence to guide treatment. The purpose of this study was to report the clinical outcome of unplanned retention of antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer (ACS) in the management of osteomyelitis. METHODS Eight patients (7 with tibial infections and 1 with a calcaneal infection) with osteomyelitis re...

The use of antibiotic-impregnated cement as a bone spacer in two-stage revision hip surgery has been well described. Two additional placements for spacers are described: within the trochanteric osteotomy and overlying the greater trochanter. These spacers have been found to dramatically facilitate exposure at the second-stage procedure and are now being incorporated into all two-stage revision ...

We present a case of Mycobacterium chelonae infection after total knee arthroplasty in a 70-year-old woman. The patient underwent implant removal, drainage, debridement, and insertion of a gentamycin-load cement spacer. After 4 months, the second-stage surgery was performed. Intravenous amikacin (6 weeks) and oral clarithromycin (12 weeks) were given. At the 12-month follow-up, the patient ach...

BACKGROUND Florid infection and osteomyelitis of the forefoot in patients with diabetic neuropathy often requires minor amputation, with risk of subsequent reulceration, reamputation, and patient dissatisfaction. We investigated use of an antibiotic-impregnated cement spacer (ACS) to release antibiotic locally to resolve residual infection and to fill the cavity created by debridement. METHOD...

Limb salvage surgery for malignant tumours of proximal humerus is an operative challenge, where the surgeon has to preserve elbow and hand functions and retain shoulder stability with as much function as possible. We treated 14 consecutive patients with primary malignant or isolated metastasis of proximal humerus with surgical resection and reconstruction by nail cement spacer. There were 8 fem...

We have carried out in 24 patients, a two-stage revision arthroplasty of the hip for infection with massive bone loss. We used a custom-made, antibiotic-loaded cement prosthesis as an interim spacer. Fifteen patients had acetabular deficiencies, eight had segmental femoral bone loss and one had a combined defect. There was no recurrence of infection at a mean follow-up of 4.2 years (2 to 7). A ...