Role of gentamicin-impregnated cement in total joint arthroplasty.

Overview

Palacos-Gentamicin (PG) was used in 130 joint arthroplasties at The Hospital for Special Surgery. At an average follow-up of 2.5 years (range, 2 to 5), the overall recurrence rate of infection was 3.8 per cent. Only one (2.0 per cent) infection occurred where the bacteria were sensitive to PG and there were no infections in the two-stage reimplantation group. There have been no adverse effects from the gentamicin and the inferior intrusion properties of the PG have not been reflected in the clinical or radiographic results.