Does the use of topical vancomycin during primary hip or knee arthroplasty protect from infections?

Background: Infection is one of the main complications of hip and knee arthroplasties. Topical application vancomycin to prevent postoperative infections is efficient in spine surgery, and is spreading in prosthetic surgery. However, its clinical relevance and safety are still under debate. Thus, we conducted the present study to (1) assess whether topical vancomycin reduces peri-prosthetic infection rate, and (2) investigate its influence on surgical wound complications.

Hypothesis: Our hypothesis was that topical administration of diluted vancomycin during arthroplasty would reduce infection rate within the first postoperative year.

Material and methods: In total, 1900 hip and knee arthroplasties were performed between 2014 and 2021 in a single hospital. From July 2018 and December 2021, 910 prostheses were implanted with intra-articular instillation of vancomycin and tranexamic acid. From November 2014 to June 2018, 990 prostheses were set up without vancomycin. During a follow-up of minimum 12 months, we reported periprosthetic infections occurring during the first postoperative year, as well as vancomycin-induced general or cutaneous complications.

Results: We observed periprosthetic infections in 9/990 cases (0.91%) of the control group and 10/910 cases (1.1%) of the vancomycin group (p = 0.82). In parallel, we observed wound complications (erythema, seroma, hematoma, dehiscence and delay in wound healing) in 19/990 (1.9%) and 10/910 cases (1.1%) of the control and vancomycin group, respectively (p = 0.19). There were no general complications resulting from the application of vancomycin.

Discussion: Topical diluted vancomycin does not reduce periprosthetic infection risk, and has no effect on the occurrence of surgery wound complications. Considering the present findings, the use of vancomycin cannot be recommended in current practice to prevent infections following hip and knee arthroplasties. Finally, its use does not induce any specific complications, whether local (cicatrisation) or general (related to ototoxicity or nephrotoxicity).

Level of evidence: III; case control study.