Analysis of infection in shoulder arthroplasty: a multicentre study

The purpose of this paper is to analyze 44 patients with infected shoulder arthroplasties from different centers. The patients were followed up for at least 2 years or until revision surgery from the year 1993 to 2008. The mean follow-up of patients was 30 months. Microorganisms taken from 34 of the 44 patients were cultured. The most common was Propionibacterium acnes (36%), and the less common Staphylococcus aureus or a combination with P. acnes (5%) each. No microorganisms from 23% of the patients were cultured. In 69% of the patients, no loosening of the components was noted, and only 27% of the revised patients needed further revision. Complications occurred in 22% of the patients like fistula, instability, implant failure, and one patient died. Good healing of the wound was noted in 77% of the patients. Constant score showed nice progression with regard to pain before and after surgery. One- or two-stage revision procedures led to identical results. Infection can occur even without any history of previous shoulder surgery. Propionibacterium acnes and Staphylococcus epidermidis were frequently cultured organisms. There was no difference in the results of single- or two-stage revision procedures. 4, case series, treatment.