CELLULITIS AFTER HIP-SURGERY - LONG-TERM FOLLOW-UP OF 7 CASES

Cellulitis of the buttock after hip surgery is rarely reported, but ra ises concern about possible infection of the implant. In view of this we have investigated the frequency of previous hip surgery in patients with cellulitis of the hip and/or buttock and assessed for any predis posing factors. A review was made of the case notes of all patients ad mitted to our department with infectious cellulitis of the hip and/or buttock between 1981 and 1995. Seven of nine patients previously had h ad implantation of a hip prosthesis. The interval between skin infecti on and surgery was 7-9 weeks in two patients and 55-520 weeks in five, No infection of the implant was evident, The assumed portals of entry were gluteal fold intertrigo, tinea pedis, psoriatic plaque and a car buncle of the buttock, The infection was successfully treated by intra venous antibiotics and, after a follow-up of a mean 64 months, no recu rrence of cellulitis has been observed and only one aseptic loosening has occurred, Infectious cellulitis of the hip or buttock following hi p surgery can occur secondary to impaired lymphatic drainage, a few we eks up to several years after surgery, without there being any infecti on of the orthopaedic implant.