Surgical strategies for management of infection following knee arthroplasty and arthroscopic procedures

Infection is one of the most feared complications following knee arthroplasty and soft tissue arthroscopic procedures. This article summarizes the current understanding on the management of this rare but devastating problem. The healthcare and economic burden of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is highlighted, together with how the classification of infection and host staging can aid decision-making. Surgical treatment options will be described. These consist of ‘debridement, antibiotics and implant retention’ (DAIR), revision arthroplasty (single- or two-stage), as well as salvage procedures (arthrodesis, permanent resection, and amputation). In selected cases, chronic antibiotic suppression may be the only viable option. All implant-related orthopaedic infections must be managed using a multidisciplinary team (MDT) approach, ideally within dedicated bone infection units, in order to optimize clinical outcomes