Assessments of infection after total knee replacement with three years follow up period

Background: Knee replacement surgery also known as knee arthroplasty can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. The aim of the study was designed to determine the current incidence and outcome of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in our unit.Methods: Present study was performed at department of orthopedics, Gujarat Adani institute of medical science, Bhuj, Kutch, Gujarat. Questionnaire was designed as per our needs and we explained the study to all the individuals who had undergone knee replacement surgery in three years. In the questioner the patient were asked whether they had any suspicion of infection in the joint or wound after the knee surgery. If there reply was found to be affirmative than next they were asked if they had any reddened wound area, any inflammation area, readmission to the hospital due to infection, pus discharge from the wound, any further debridment or resurgery was planned for their infection and whether they were asked to take antibiotics to rule out infection.Results: Infection was identified in 20 patients of the study. All the cases underwent culture media for detection of microorganisms. Staphylococcus and E. coli were identified in majority of the cases. Six patients had undergone revision of their primary TKA for deep infection; four were having a two-stage revision with no sign of residual infection at the latest review; the oxford knee score when calculated were found to be 35, 38, 45, 48 respectively.Conclusions: During this study period, infection after primary TKA was rare but devastating and invariably led to a poor outcome