Intraarticular vancomycin decreased the risk of acute postoperative periprosthetic joint infection without increasing complication in primary total joint arthroplasty- a prospective study.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the preventive effect of intraarticularly administered vancomycin on acute postoperative periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) in total joint arthroplasty (TJA).

METHODS: Consecutive patients who underwent unilateral primary TJA were prospectively enrolled. The patients were divided into vancomycin group and control group according to whether 1g of vancomycin powder suspended in 30ml normal saline was intraarticularly administered after arthrotomy closure. Acute postoperative PJI and aseptic wound complication were evaluated within three months postoperatively. Vancomycin-associated toxicity including acute renal failure, ototoxicity and anaphylaxis was also evaluated.

RESULTS: In terms of demographic parameters and comorbidities, no significant difference was found between the two groups. Intra-articular vancomycin significantly lowered the risk of acute postoperative PJI after primary TJA (p=0.015) and primary total knee arthroplasty (p=0.031). However, for patients who underwent total hip arthroplasty, the PJI rate was comparable between the two groups. Overall, the risk of aseptic wound complication between the two groups was also similar. Vancomycin-associated acute renal injury, ototoxicity, or anaphylaxis was not observed.

CONCLUSIONS: Intra-articular injection of 1g of vancomycin suspension after arthrotomy closure during TJA lowered the risk of acute postoperative PJI without increasing the risk of aseptic wound complication and vancomycin-associated systemic toxicity.