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Int J Med Sci 2009; 6(5):258-264. doi:10.7150/ijms.6.258 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Treatment of proximal femur infections with antibiotic-loaded cement spacers

J. Kelm ^1,2 , P. Bohrer ³, E. Schmitt ¹, K. Anagnostakos ¹

1. Klinik für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie, Universitätskliniken des Saarlandes, Homburg/Saar, Germany
2. Chirurgisch-Orthopädisches Zentrum Illingen/Saar, Germany
3. Amper Kliniken AG, Klinikum Dachau, Abteilung für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie, Germany

✉ Correspondence to: Dr. med. Jens Kelm, Diplom-Sportlehrer, Chirurgisch-Orthopädisches Zentrum Illingen, Rathausstr. 2, D-66557 Illingen/Saar, Germany. Tel: 0049 6841 1624520; Fax: 0049 6841 1624516; E-Mail: jk66421com

Abstract

In case of periprosthetic hip infections the implantation of antibiotic-loaded PMMA spacers is accepted for an adequate treatment option. Although their indication for the treatment of destructive, bacterial infections of the proximal femur would make sense, literature data are scarce. Hence, the aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated spacers in the treatment of proximal femur infections.

In 10 consecutive patients (5 M/ 5 F, mean age 66 y.) with bacterial proximal femur infections, a femoral head/neck resection was prospectively performed with a subsequent implantation of an antibiotic-loaded spacer. The joint-specific outcome was evaluated by the Merle d´Aubigne and the Mayo hip score, the general outcome by SF-36. The time periods were divided into “infection situation”, “between stages” and meanly 1 year “after prosthesis implantation”.

The spacers were meanly implanted over 90 [155-744] days. In all cases an infection eradication could be achieved. After infection eradication, a prosthesis implantation was performed in 8 cases. The general scores showed significant increases at each time period. With regard to the dimension “pain”, both scores demonstrated a significant increase between “infection situation” and “between stages”, but no significance between “between stages” and “after prosthesis implantation”.

Spacers could be indicated in the treatment of proximal femur infections. Besides an infection eradication, a pain reduction is also possible.

Keywords: hip spacer, proximal femur infection, hip joint, antibiotic-loaded cement

Introduction

The maintenance of the joint function and the infection eradication are the treatment aims of bacterial infections of the proximal femur and its bordering soft tissues. In case of early infections of a bacterial coxitis, local treatment procedures, such as arthrotomy and lavage [2], open or arthroscopic joint lavage [4], insertion of antibiotic-loaded media [21] and systemic antibiosis [2] usually lead to a successful infection management. However, these procedures are insufficient in the treatment of the destructive, bacterial coxitis or the septic pseudarthrosis of the femoral neck after osteosynthesis. Thus, in these cases a two-stage treatment is often required. Beyond the obligate systemic antibiosis, the common procedure includes an excision arthroplasty of the femoral head (Girdlestone-hip) with a simultaneous insertion of commercial antibiotic-loaded device (beads or collagen sponges) [16-18, 20]. In case of multimicrobial infections, these commercial antibiotic-impregnated media cannot provide frequently a sufficient antibiotic therapy. Further disadvantages of the Girdlestone-hip are the instable joint situation and the soft-tissue shortening which may lead to enormous problems during the later prosthesis reimplantation [5, 14, 24].

A modern, innovative procedure for avoidance of soft-tissue shortening and provision of sufficient infection therapy is the usage of temporary, antibiotic-loaded cement spacers [5, 7, 14, 24]. Although their indication in the treatment of destructive, bacterial infections of the proximal femur would make sense, literature data are scarce [8-9].

In this study, we report on the technical procedure and the outcome of our therapy concept using antibiotic-impregnated PMMA hip spacers in the treatment of proximal femur infections.

Patients and Methods

Patients

Between 2000 and 2004 we performed an excision arthroplasty of the femoral head/neck in 10 consecutive patients (5 M, 5 F) due to bacterial infections of the proximal femur. A total of 11 antibiotic-loaded PMMA hip spacers were implanted (Table 1). At the time of surgery, the mean age of the patients was 66 [52-77] years. After infection eradication, a prosthesis has been reimplanted in 8 cases. One patient passed away due to an unclear cause between stages, another patient (bilateral spacer implantation) due to a cardiomyopathy. In both cases, a reinfection could be excluded by magnet resonance imaging (MRI).

Patients' comorbidities, surgical procedures, pathogen organisms, time between stages and follow-up are summarized in Table 1. The diagnostic criteria for infection consisted of medical history, physical examination, blood results, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), radiological findings (x-ray, CT or MRI) and isolation of the pathogen organism. In 2 cases, no organism could be identified, however, the histopathological findings confirmed the diagnosis of an osteomyelitis of the femoral head.

Methods

Surgical approach for spacer implantation

Via a transgluteal approach the proximal femur was demonstrated. After radical debridement of potentially infected and necrotic soft-tissues, the femoral head was resected under consideration of the later implantation of the prosthesis into the proximal femur. Tissue samples (bone- and soft tissue) were sent for bacteriological and histological examination. After proper leg positioning, the femur was prepared with the rasps of our endoprosthesis systems (Bicontact^®, Fa. Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) for the spacer implantation. Afterwards, pulsatile lavage was performed with approximately 15 l Ringer's solution PL 2511 (Fa. Fresenius-Kabi, Bad-Homburg, Germany).

At the same time, another team in the surgery room had been producing the spacer by using a CAD-planned and CNC-milled, two-parted mould of polyoxymethylene [1]. The bone cement used in all cases was Refobacin-Palacos ^® (Fa. Merck, Darmstadt, Gemany), each spacer was loaded with 4 g vancomycin (Fa. cell pharen GmbH, Hannover, Germany) per 80 g cement. In one case, 800 mg teicoplanin were used due to a vancomycin allergy of the patient.

All spacers have been fixed to the proximal femur according either to the “glove”-technique [1] or to a “press-fit”-method. Thus, a rotation-secure implantation could be achieved in the proximal marrow cavity of the femur. After spacer reduction, a redon drain was placed at the spacer's head and another one subfascial. The wound was then closed in layers.

Postoperative treatment

Antibiosis

After consultation with our Microbiologic Institute and under narrow CRP monitoring, intravenous antibiotics have been administered for the first 4 weeks and subsequently oral antibiotics for another two weeks, depending on the sensitivity profile of the particular causative organism. Both patients with no isolated organisms were treated with flucloxacillin and clindamycin, respectively. The systemic therapy was ended if the CRP level was normal after these 6 weeks. 14 days after ending of the antibiosis and if the CRP has returned to normal levels, the prosthesis implantation could be planned.

Physiotherapy

Postoperatively, an immediate mobilisation of the patients with crutches under contact weight bearing (spacer not stable under total weight bearing) was aimed. The desired mobility of the operated hip joint should conform to the one of a hip joint with a standard prosthesis.

Surgical approach for prosthesis implantation

After demonstration of the spacer via the transgluteal approach, spacer removal, debridement and pulsatile lavage, we could implant a standard prosthesis type Aesculap Bicontact with a screw cup type SC (Fa. Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) in 7 cases (Fig. 1). In one case a Link-revision stem (Fa. Waldemar Link, Hamburg, Germany) was implanted, whereas the acetabular cup was also a screw cup SC.

 Fig 1 

Left: Destructive bacterial coxitis; Middle: Spacer implantation between stages; Right: 3 months later and after infection eradication, a prosthesis implantation (SC^® cup, Bicontact^® stem, Fa. Aesculap, Tuttlingen, Germany) has been performed.

Follow-up after prosthesis implantation

Physical examination

Besides mobility and leg length measurement, the maximal walking distance, pain persistence and requirement for walking aids were evaluated.

Scores

Joint specific outcome

The joint specific outcome of the patients was evaluated by the Merle d´Aubigne [15] and Mayo Hip Score [10]. The selected time periods were “infection situation” (before the spacer implantation), “between stages” (after infection eradication, period between stages)) and “after prosthesis implantation”, at a mean follow-up of 1 year [155/744 days].

General outcome

The outcome of the patients was exclusively evaluated at the follow-up by the SF-36 [3], a questionnaire about the health related life quality. The evaluated scores of the patients were compared to ones of a control group of similar age and gender, representative of the german population.

Statistics

Due to the small sample size and the non-symmetrical distribution, the median and both extreme values are shown. Statistical analysis was performed with the Wilcoxon-test [28], significance niveau was defined for a p < 0.05. All statistical evaluation was carried out with the software program SPSS 12.0 (Fa. SPSS GmbH, Munich, Germany).

Results

Only the results of the eight patients with a prosthesis reimplantation have been evaluated. In all cases an infection eradication could be achieved. The spacers were meanly implanted for 90 [60/192] days.

1. Complications

A spacer dislocation occurred in one case. Treatment consisted of closed reduction and immobilization in a Newport orthesis (Fa. Ormed, Freiburg, Germany). The dislocation cause was a fracture of the dorsal acetabular lip which occurred during the femoral head dislocation. During stages, the patient suffered from a thrombosis, probably due to the tightness of the orthesis. One year later, we diagnosed in the same patient a septic prosthesis loosening again. The infection treatment consisted again of a spacer implantation. After infection eradication, a prosthesis was reimplanted. At a further follow-up of 24 months, no reinfection or infection persistence occurred.

2. Follow-up (meanly 1 year after prosthesis reimplantation [155/744 days])

2.1 Physical examination

Maximal walking distance

4 patients reported an unlimited walking distance, 2 patients were mobile only in their homes. One patient reported a walking distance of 200 m, however, he was dependent on a walking aid. One patient reported a weather-dependent insecurity beyond a distance of 200 m.

Pain

5 patients were painfree, one patient had moderate complaints after long walks. The other two patients reported of minor pain during mobilisation with crutches.

Walking aid

3 patients did not need any aid at all, one patient used an aid outdoors. One patient was dependent on an aid all the time due to a gluteal insufficiency. The other three patients were immobile during the implantation period and showed only minimal mobility with a walking frame.

Leg length discrepancy

At follow-up, a leg length discrepancy between 1 and 2.5 cm could be noticed in 3 patients, whereby in 2 out of the 3 cases this discrepancy has been decreased compared with the values before the spacer implantation, respectively.

3. Scores

3.1. Joint specific outcome

3.1.1 Merle d´Aubigné and Postel hip score (Fig. 2)

The evaluation of the Merle d´Aubigné and Postel hip score showed significant increases between the infection situation and the period between stages (p < 0.021) and the prosthesis reimplantation (p < 0.018), respectively. In regard to the score dimension “pain”, a significant increase (p < 0.018) between the infection situation and the period between stages could be achieved, but not to the prosthesis implantation.

3.1.2. Mayo hip score after Kavanagh und Fitzgerald (Fig. 3)

The evaluation of the Mayo hip score showed also a significant increase between the infection situation and the period between stages (p < 0.028) and the prosthesis reimplantation (p < 0.018), respectively. Moreover, a significant increase (p < 0.026) has been noticed for the dimension “pain” after spacer implantation.

 Fig 2 

Evaluation of the hip joint function by the Merle d' Aubigne score at the site of spacer implantation in the treatment of proximal femur infections.

 Fig 3 

Evaluation of the hip joint function by the Mayo Hip Score at the site of spacer implantation in the treatment of proximal femur infections.

3.2. General outcome

3.2.1 SF-36

In the areas „ physical fitness“ and “physical role function“ the achieved values were below those of the control group. Regarding “pain”, “general health condition”, “social integration”, “emotional role function” and “mental well-being” they were beyond of those of the control group. Significant statistical test series could not be performed due to the small number of patients.

Discussion

The implantation of temporary, antibiotic-loaded PMMA prostheses is accepted for an adequate option in the treatment of periprosthetic infections. Although their indication for the treatment of destructive, bacterial infections of the proximal femur would make sense, literature data are scarce [8-9]. Thus, the aim of this article was to study the efficacy of antibiotic-loaded PMMA-hip spacers in the treatment of infections of the proximal femur.

Isiklar and colleagues were the first to report on the successful use of a hip spacer in the treatment of an infected femoral neck fracture with implant failure and pseudarthrosis [9]. Hsieh et al. treated 27 patients with deep hip infections following failed primary treatment of an intertrochanteric fracture with a two-stage protocol [8]. In the first 15 cases antibiotic-loaded beads have been implanted after resection arthroplasty, whereas the remaining 12 patients have been treated by implantation of an antibiotic-impregnated hip spacer. At an average follow-up of 4.8 years one reinfection could be observed in one patient in the first group. During the interim period, patients with a spacer prosthesis has significantly higher hip scores and better mobility after evaluation by the Merle d´Aubigné and Postel hip score. Similar to these data, we could not observe any reinfection or infection persistence in our patients' series.

The Girdlestone-hip (excision arthroplasty of the femoral head) with the subsequent insertion of local antibiotic-impregnated media is still counting among the standard treatment options of the destructive, bacterial coxitis [16-18, 20]. It is also performed in the treatment of the septic femoral neck pseudarthrosis. Frequently, pathogen organisms as tuberculosis and salmonella bacteria can be isolated from such infections [6, 13, 18, 20, 23]. With regard to these organisms and the increasing ratio of multiresistant bacteria [11-12, 25] a local antibiosis has become difficult to apply. Especially the ratio of multiresistant bacteria strains, as staphylococci, streptococci and enterococci, has increased [25-27]. These organisms were responsible for all infections in our patients. Commercially available antibiotic-loaded media (beads, collagen sponges) are loaded only with gentamicin. Therefore, the addition of an antibiotic to PMMA is required for enhancement of the antibiotic therapy which is possible using our treatment option.

To our knowledge, there exists only one study which compared the Girdlestone procedure with the spacer implantation with regard to the clinical outcome, surgical parameters and follow-up [7]. Although no significant difference could be observed regarding the infection eradication rate, many authors are in favour of the spacer procedure at the site of a two-stage protocol [5, 14, 24]. Especially the physiotherapeutical measurements can be performed better due to the spacer-induced joint stability [24]. The lacking leg length discrepany allows an almost physiological joint mobility which could serve in the prophylaxis of pneumonia and thrombosis [22]. Furthermore, some authors permit a partial weight bearing with the spacer [5, 19, 24], which can be performed painfree in most cases, in contrast to the excision arthroplasty [16]. A disuse osteoporosis and muscle atrophy are hereby prevented so that the later prosthesis reimplantation is facilitated [29]. In conclusion, the spacer implantation optimizes the premises for a successful reimplantation of the prosthesis with regard to the heart and circulation situation and the biomechanical properties.

Despite these advantages, no significant increase could be observed in our collective for the score dimension “mobility” between stages. On the contrary, the score values at follow-up showed an increase compared to pre- and during spacer implantation. A probable cause might be the reduced weight bearing properties of our spacer. Therefore, the enhancement of the spacer's stability should be the aim of further investigations, either with the insertion of a metallic endoskeleton or with K-wires [7-8, 14, 19].

Regarding the score dimension “pain” our patients showed significantly better results after the spacer implantation than before. Hereby, the articulating grinding of the spacer´s head against the acetabulum seems to be of no disadvantage. The pain reduction might result from the intra-articular pressure decrease due to the arthrotomy and head resection or the joint stability guaranteed by the spacer.

The evaluation of the follow-up results of the remaining parameters (walking aid, walking distance, joint mobility) showed satisfactory results. In only one case we could observe an unsatisfactory outcome. In particular, the consecutive complications (fracture of the dorsal acetabular lip, spacer dislocation, thrombosis, reinfection) had a negative influence on the outcome. The reinfection after the prosthesis reimplantation should not be attributed as a failure of the spacer treatment, because the reinfection rate after Girdlestone arthroplasty with 16.1 % [30] is higher than in our series.

The evaluation of the health-related life quality by the SF-36 showed that the values of the physical fitness and the physical role function were lower than those of the control group. These two scales reflect the health condition for normal and exhausting physical activity. In the scales “physical pain”, “general health perception”, “vitality”, “social integration”, “emotional role function” and “mental well-being” the values achieved were among the norm values. With regard to the health condition of the patients, our results indicate that the physical activity is affected after several operations. However, these affections do not have any severe influence on the normal social activity or create any emotional problems.

Conclusion

Spacers could be indicated in the treatment of proximal femur infections. Beyond the infection eradication a pain reduction is possible due to the spacer implantation. The mobility of the patients between stages could be enhanced by improving the spacer's mechanical properties.

Conflict of Interest

The authors have declared that no conflict of interest exists.

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Author contact

Correspondence to: Dr. med. Jens Kelm, Diplom-Sportlehrer, Chirurgisch-Orthopädisches Zentrum Illingen, Rathausstr. 2, D-66557 Illingen/Saar, Germany. Tel: 0049 6841 1624520; Fax: 0049 6841 1624516; E-Mail: jk66421com

Received 2009-8-1
Accepted 2009-9-2
Published 2009-9-3

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