Preformed Articulating Knee Spacers in 2-Stage Total Knee Revision Arthroplasty Minimum 2-Year Follow-Up

Two-stage revision arthroplasty using articulating spacers for the treatment of infected total knee arthroplasty (TKA) is a successful management technique. Our purpose was to report our results using preformed, commercially available articulating spacers made of gentamicinimpregnated cement. Thirty-three patients with infected primary or revision TKAs were treated with these spacers using a 2-stage 'revision technique. In most cases, the spacers were modified intraoperatively by adding a stein of reinfed-ced antibiotic-impregnated acrylic cement. Successful eradication was achieved in 30 of 33 cases at a minimum 2-year follow-up interval. Two patients required a second spacer before successful revision TKA. No spacer fractures or dislocations occurred in this series. No adverse soft tissue effects were noted from the use of this type of articulating spacer.