OBJECTIVETo study the complications and efficacy of self-made, antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacers in the treatment of the infected hip replacement.

METHODSBetween January 2006 and July 2016, 265 patients (266 hips) received a self-made, antibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer as part of a two-stage protocol. Among those patients, there were 143 males(144 hips) and 122 females(122 hips). The cement articulating spacers with vancomycin and two Steinman pins were made by a self-made mold system. Meanwhile, another antibiotic was added to the spacers according to the drug sensitivity test. Record if the infected prosthesis was removed, related complication with spacer(breakage and dislocation), Harris score, and control rate of infection.

RESULTSThe mean age of two-stage revision operation was(57.4±14.2) years. Thirty-nine patients(14.7%) used extended trochanteric osteotomy(ETO) to remove the infected prosthesis. And 38 patients occurred mentioned complications(14.3%). Spacer breakage occurred in 28 cases(10.5%) and dislocation occurred in 10 cases(3.8%). The mean follow-up time was(83.4±14.6) months. The Harris hip score was from 47.56±14.23 preoperatively to 86.43±12.84 at final follow-up(<0.05). The infection of 256 cases(96.6%) got control after revision operation. However, during postoperative follow-up, 4 cases occurred re-infection, and they were reoperated, and the infections obtained effective control after the operation. Thus total infection control rate was 95.1%(252/265).

CONCLUSIONSAntibiotic-loaded cement articulating spacer made by a self-made mold system is effective in controling infection caused by hip replacement. Related complication is less with spacer by a mould enclosing two Steinman pins. Using metallic internal fixation or allograft bone combined with spacer does not affect infection control.