Working in collaboration with local, national, and international facilities, the orthopedic medicine and surgery specialists at REOrthopaedics, Inc., in San Diego have spearheaded numerous scientific investigations that have led to practical treatment solutions bringing immediate benefits to patients and families throughout the world.
Treatment of Peri-Prosthetic Infections at Our San Diego Practice
Infections following artificial joint replacement, known as peri- prosthetic infections, are a very serious complication with an incidence of one or two in every 100 procedures. At REOrthopaedics, Inc., our orthopedic surgeons have exceptional experience in diagnosing and treating prosthetic infections.
In addition to treating prosthetic infections, our office in San Diego serves patients from nearby Los Angeles and across the globe suffering from many other orthopedic conditions, including osteomyelitis, bone deformities, bone and soft tissue tumors, and infections related to bone fractures and trauma .
Peri-Prosthetic Infections
Peri-prosthetic infections are a potential side effect, but rare occurrence, following artificial joint replacement. These infections are considered a serious complication and deserve a comprehensive and individualized treatment approach - offered by the surgeons at our San Diego practice.
Prosthetic infections do not always show up right after surgery. The occurrence may be:
- Early: within a month after replacement surgery.
- Delayed: more than a month after replacement surgery.
- Late: acquired more than one year after replacement surgery
Cause of Peri-Prosthetic Infections
Peri- prosthetic infections occur for several reasons. Most of these infections involve bacteria that have either entered the blood stream, have been shed from some other site, or were present in the skin and soft tissue. These bacteria can overwhelm the patient’s immune system and, ultimately, lead to a serious infection within or near the replacement site.
Symptoms of a possible prosthetic infection include:
- joint pain
- swelling
- redness of the skin
- fever
- drainage
- abnormal laboratory values
Prosthetic infections can be diagnosed at REOrthopaedics, Inc. – a premier orthopedic surgery practice in San Diego, in close proximity to Los Angeles and Mexico. Our surgeons will use state-of-the-art diagnostic modalities to determine the type of infection and an appropriate course of treatment.
Individualized Treatment
The surgeons at REOrthopaedics, Inc., use a comprehensive approach to diagnose and treat peri-prosthetic infections, utilizing their extensive knowledge and experience to organize plans tailored to the needs of each patient.
Treatment and outcomes for peri-prosthetic infections are based on “timing,” meaning the time it took for the infection to develop after the total joint procedure – early, delayed, or late. Other factors affecting treatment include the health of the patient, the quality of bone tissue and the responsiveness of the bacteria to antimicrobial therapy.
If antibiotics and other non-invasive treatment plans are not applicable, surgical removal of the implants and other foreign materials may be necessary, particularly if the infection involves deep tissues or the joint itself. Even in cases that are considered “late infections,” there is a 50 to 80 percent chance the infection can be successfully treated, shy of removing the prosthesis. However, to achieve this level of success, a surgical debridement of the wound and joint must take place very shortly after the onset of symptoms (pain, swelling, fever and/or drainage).
Treatment of Delayed Prosthetic Infection
The most successful method to treat delayed, peri-prosthetic infections is a staged protocol involving a series of two, distinct operations (over time) that are designed to exchange the infected prosthesis for a new one. In the first stage, infected tissue and all prosthetic components are removed and the wound is allowed to heal with the aide of systemic and locally implanted antibiotics. In the second stage, weeks or months after the first, a new prosthesis is implanted.
Between stages, the joint can be:
- left loose and protected with a brace
- held stiff and motionless with a temporary fusion
- free to move, using a temporary, prosthetic composite of “high dose” antibiotic cements and adjunctive antibiotic beads
As when treating other types of osteomyelitis, the wound and patient are protected with a course of systemic antibiotic therapy designed to treat the bacteria causing the infection. In the hands of the surgeons of REOrthopaedics, Inc., these outcomes match those when treating infected non-unions of long bones. Success Rates = 94 percent or higher.
The surgeons at REOrthopaedics, Inc., use a comprehensive approach to diagnose and treat peri-prosthetic infections, utilizing their extensive knowledge and experience to organize plans tailored to the needs of each patient. For more information about peri-prosthetic infections, contact our San Diego office office. We are pleased to serve patients from nearby Los Angeles, Mexico as well as throughout Canada, the United States, and across the globe.
Peri-Prosthetic Infection Diagrams
Contact the Orthopedic Surgeons at our San Diego Office, near Los Angeles
If you are seeking a treatment for or would like more information about prosthetic infections, please contact REOrthopaedics, Inc. We are located in San Diego, not far from Los Angeles.
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7910 Frost Street, Suite 120
San Diego, California 92123
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San Diego, California 92103
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Phone: (866) 206-6436