Comparación de los espaciadores articulados vs. fijos en la revisión de la infección periprotésica de rodilla

Introduction: Cement spacers with antibiotics can be fixed or articulating, with similar results in eradicating infection. Our objective was to compare joint range of motion (ROM) and functional outcomes after reimplantation. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study of patients who had undergone a knee prosthetic revision due to infection in two surgical stages. Functionality was analyzed according to the Knee Society Score (KSS) one year after surgery and ROM was recorded 45 days after surgery. Bone defect, pain, satisfaction, complications, and recurrence of infection were recorded. Results: A total of 103 patients were included. 40 with articulating spacers and 63 with fixed spacers. The articulating spacer group presents a median of 2.5 degrees greater in final mobility (102.5 IQR 95-110 vs 100 IQR 90-105, p 0.01). The KSS functional scale and KSS of the knee did not show differences between the two groups. There were no differences concerning satisfaction, pain, and time until reimplantation. Complicationswere similar in both groups, with a reinfection rate without statistically significant differences. Conclusion: Articulating spacers have shown a benefit in ROM after prosthetic reimplantation.