Periprosthetic Joint Infection Does Not Preclude Good Outcomes after a Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study of 144 Retrospective Cases

Background and Purpose. Debate exists on whether septic revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) results in inferior clinical outcomes, and limited information is available regarding the factors associated with such outcomes. This study aimed to (1) compare clinical outcomes and characteristics of aseptic versus septic revision TKA and (2) identify the risk factors associated with inferior clinical outcomes. Methods. We retrospectively reviewed 144 revision TKAs (90 aseptic and 54 septic revisions) that were followed for a minimum of 3 years (mean = 7 years). Clinical outcome data, namely, Knee Society knee and function scores and the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score, were collected. We reviewed 13 pre- and intraoperative variables. Results. Postoperative clinical outcomes were inferior in septic revision surgeries (p<0.05). In regression analyses, however, septic revision was not an independent risk factor for poor clinical outcomes. The independent risk factors for poor outcome were identified where Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute grade 3 femoral and tibial bone defects, more than three surgeries, and treatment for persistent infection were associated with inferior clinical outcomes (all p