Abstract

Background: Knee joint replacement is an effective method to decrease pain and improve knee function in patients with advanced knee joint arthritis. However, there are some factors leading to the failure of the treatment, such as infection, mechanical failure of the replaced joint, and destruction or loosening of the implant, which may lead to the need for revision surgery. The aim of this study was to assess new methods to improve the longevity of the knee arthroplasty, as well as finding measures to decrease infection-related failures. Methods: Databases such as PubMed and Science Direct as well as the Material Journal were searched to find articles about infections of bone implant surgeries. 76 articles were retrieved; of them 41 articles were used for this review. Results: Of the 41 articles, 33 were about non-antibiotic treatment of bone implant infections, five articles had evaluated in vivo non-antibiotic treatment and its effect on bone tissue, and four other articles were related to combination of these agents with antibiotics and their increased effects after surgery. Conclusion: Using non-antibiotic agents to prevent post total knee surgery infections and biofilm formation is recommended to prevent antibiotic resistance. Currently polymethyl meta-acrylate cement mixed with antibiotics such as vancomycin and gentamycin is used in such operations but biofilm formation and microbial resistance can occur, which may lead to acute infection. In this review we evaluated technologies that can enhance the functions of orthopedic implants so that total knee joint surgery infections can be decreased. Reports show that combined various technologies can enhance preventing microbial infections.

Authors and Affiliations