Periprosthetic joint infection—effect on quality of life

Abstract

Purpose Relatively little is known about the extent to which periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) affect the patient's longterm quality of life (QoL). Our study aim was to assess the effect of a periprosthetic infection on our patients' QoL. Methods We collected data retrospectively of patients who had undergone surgery in our institution between 2006 and 2011. To capture their overall QoL, we telephoned the patients who could be reached and asked them the questions on the SF-12 questionnaire. Results In 84 patients (53 male, 31 female, 43 TKA and 41 THA), 88 % of the hip infections and 62 % of the knee infections had been successfully treated. The hip infections' cure rate was significantly higher than that of the knee joint infections.The average SF-12 score was 36.2 points on the physical scale and 52 on the mental scale. The difference in QoL between patients with and without successful infection therapy was not significant, nor did the site of the infection (knee or hip) influence QoL significantly.Comparison of our patients' QoL data to that from the general population revealed a significant difference in the physical scale but not the mental scale. Conclusion From these results QoL is substantially reduced after a prosthetic infection. We did however observe that postGirdelstone procedure patients or those with an arthrodesis attained an acceptable QoL, and that those methods remain therapeutic alternatives as far as patient-perceived QoL is concerned.

Good quality of life outcomes after treatment of prosthetic joint infection with debridement and prosthesis retention

“…The post‐arthroplasty SF–12 physical and mental outcomes from our study compare favourably with one previous study in patients with hip PJI treated with 2‐stage exchange . Other studies examining treatment of PJI with 2‐stage exchange report QOL or functional outcomes variably inferior or equivalent to controls without PJI.…”

Early Debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR) in patients with suspected acute infection after hip or knee arthroplasty - safe, effective and without negative functional impact

“…Although there is extensive evidence that successful total joint arthroplasty greatly increases quality of life and joint function, information on the impact of PJI are seldomly evaluated using objective measurements. Cahill et al (18) and Helwig et al (19) were able to confirm the negative impact of PJI on joint function and health-related quality of life. Aboltins et al (20) prospectively collected data on over 2,000 TJA patients, of which PJI occurred in 41.…”

Polymicrobial infections reduce the cure rate in prosthetic joint infections: outcome analysis with two-stage exchange and follow-up ≥two years

“…In the literature PJI occur with an incidence of 1-3 % after primary TJA, but in cases of revision surgery the incidence increases to 12 % [2,3]. Subsequently, PJI can be considered to be one of the most often, most severe and most difficult to manage complications after TJA, and especially after revision TJA [4,5].…”