Extended follow-up of patients suspected of having joint sepsis after total joint replacement

Lidwell, O. M., Lowbury, E. J. L., Whyte, W. , Blowers, R. and Lowe, D. (1985) Extended follow-up of patients suspected of having joint sepsis after total joint replacement. Journal of Hygiene, 95(3), pp. 655-664. (doi: 10.1017/s0022172400060757) (PMID:4093608) (PMCID:PMC2129562)

Abstract

During an average follow-up time of about 2½ years after total hip or knee-joint replacement in 8052 patients, suspected joint infection was recorded in 85 patients whose joints had not been re-operated during that period. The hospital records of 72 of these patients were examined after a further period, averaging about 5 years. Thirty-five of these had suffered continuing major problems with the joint, 18 of which had been revised, and a further 9 joints needed such treatment. Infection was confirmed in 17 of the 35. These numbers are proportionately about three times greater than those observed among a set of matched controls followed-up for a similar period. The evidence from the extended follow-up suggests that the failure rate, unassociated with infection, reached about 5% by 7 years after operation and that late infections, manifested between about 2½ and 7 years after operation, were about as frequent as those confirmed during the first 2½ years.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Whyte, Dr William
• Authors: Lidwell, O. M., Lowbury, E. J. L., Whyte, W., Blowers, R., and Lowe, D.
• College/School: College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering
• Journal Name: Journal of Hygiene
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• ISSN: 0022-1724
• ISSN (Online): 2396-8184