Periprosthetic Joint Infection Does Not Preclude Good Outcomes After a Revision Total Knee Arthroplasty: A 7-Year Follow-Up Study of 144 Retrospective Cases

Background And Purpose: Debate exists on whether septic revision total knee arthroplasty (TKA) results in inferior clinical outcomes, and limited information is available regarding the factors associated with such outcomes. This study aimed to (1) compare clinical outcomes and characteristics of aseptic versus septic revision TKA and (2) identify the risk factors associated with inferior clinical outcomes.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 144 revision TKAs (90 aseptic and 54 septic revisions) that were followed for a minimum of 3 years (mean = 7 years). Clinical outcome data, namely, Knee Society knee and function scores and the Hospital for Special Surgery knee score, were collected. We reviewed 13 pre- and intraoperative variables.

Results: Postoperative clinical outcomes were inferior in septic revision surgeries (<0.05). In regression analyses, however, septic revision was not an independent risk factor for poor clinical outcomes. The independent risk factors for poor outcome were identified where Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute grade 3 femoral and tibial bone defects, more than three surgeries, and treatment for persistent infection were associated with inferior clinical outcomes (all <0.05). Standard two-stage septic revision without grade 3 bone defects or additional surgeries showed comparable outcomes to aseptic revision.

Interpretation: Clinical outcomes of septic revision were inferior to those of aseptic revision. However, poor outcomes were mainly associated with large bone defects and an increased number of surgeries. The outcomes of aseptic and septic revision surgery were similar when patients with larger bone defects and more than three surgeries were excluded.