THE USE OF MUSCLE FLAPS FOR SALVAGE OF FAILED TOTAL KNEE ARTHROPLASTY

Deep infections occur in 1-5 % of all patients undergoing total knee a rthroplasty, and may result in failure of the prosthesis and subsequen t arthrodesis. Two-stage reimplantation is often successful, but depen ds upon the presence of good soft tissue coverage. We have treated 9 p atients in whom chronic infection developed which required removal of the prosthesis, debridement, and implantation of antibiotic impregnate d spacers for control. These patients all had poor quality soft tissue cover precluding prosthesis reimplantation. The use of muscle flaps r esulted in 7 of the 9 patients having successful reimplantation of a p rosthesis and remaining free of infection in a follow-up ranging from 1-5 years.