To analyze the effectiveness of a two-stage revision surgery for an infected total hip arthroplasty.

Between 1988 and 2005, twenty-four patients (24 hips, 18 males, 6 females) with documented infection of total hip arthroplasty were reviewed and followed for at least two years postoperatively. The preoperative and postoperative clinical and radiologic findings and blood laboratory work were compared. Eight arthroplasty cases were performed through retention of the femoral stem and removal of the acetabular cup with cementing by impregnated antibiotics in the first stage of the operation, and subsequent acetabular cup revision in the second stage of the operation.

After the first stage of the operation, infectious organisms were cultured in 19 patients, and isolated Staphylococcus aureus was cultured in 14 patients. The mean follow-up period was 8.2 years, and the average Harris hip score improved to 88.4 points at last follow-up. Radiologic osteolysis was noted in 5 cases, and possible loosening was demonstrated in 1 case. The erythrocyte sediment rate (mm/hr) and C-reactive protein (mg/L) were 43.8/14.2 preoperatively and 17.9/8.3 postoperatively. There were 2 recurrences of infection, for an eradication rate of 91.7% (22 of 24).

Two-stage revision for an infected total hip arthroplasty proved to be an excellent method with a high eradication rate.