Pathways for established prosthetic joint infection

Abstract

This chapter discusses pathways for established prosthetic joint infection (PJI) and includes discussion on management of acute infection, surgical management of acute infection (including arthroscopic debridement and implant retention strategies), formal revision surgery, and management of chronic low-grade infection (including management of low-grade infection, antibiotic suppression, and free flaps). The main emphasis of this chapter is to guide the team on what are safe and accepted treatments for patients with confirmed PJI. The most important decision is whether the underlying implant should be retained or replaced. The latter can be in a single or multiple stages.