Acta orthopaedica
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Implantation of antibiotic-loaded beads is used for orthopedic infections. However, recent in vitro reports have emphasized that bacteria can persist on-or even colonize-antibiotic-impregnated bone cement. We therefore assessed whether bacterial adherence and growth could be determined on gentami-cin- and gentamicin-vancomycin-loaded beads that had been removed after eradication of infection. ⋯ Persistence of bacterial growth on bone cement remains a hazardous problem in orthopedic surgery. Adherence of bacteria to cement can lead to emergence of bacterial resistance to antibiotics and might result in clinical recurrence of infection.
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Very few studies have focused on patient characteristics that influence length of stay (LOS) in fast-track total hip (THR) and knee arthroplasty (TKR). The aim of this prospective study was to identify patient characteristics associated with LOS and patient satisfaction after total hip and knee replacement surgery. ⋯ We identified several patient characteristics that influence postoperative outcome, LOS, and patient satisfaction in our series of consecutive fast-track joint replacement patients, enabling further attention to be paid to certain aspects of surgery and rehabilitation.