Objective To study the effect of vancomycin-loaded polymethylmethacrylate (VCMPMMA) in the treatment of an experimental hemiprosthetic hip infectionof rabbits. Methods The infected hemiprosthetic hip joints of the rabbits underwent debridement and one-stage revision arthroplasty. Requested by the “fixed” method, 24 rabbits were equally divided into 2 groups: the control group and theexperimental group. The prostheses were fixed with PMMA in the control group, but with VCM-PMMA in the experimental group. X-ray films were taken immediately after operation, and then 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation. The C reactive protein (CRP) and the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured before operation, then measured 1, 3, and 7 days after operation, and then 2, 4, 8, and 12 weeks after operation, i.e., they were measured at the above 8 time points. All the rabbits were sacrificed 12 weeks later. The cure rate of the infection was determined by the blood culture for the corresponding bacteria and the Rhodamine-labeled anti-Staphylococcus epidermidisimmune serum staining. Results The X-ray films revealed that6 hemiprosthetic hip joints were dislocated in the control group, but 3 in the experimental group; 58.3% and 16.7% of the hemiprosthetic hip joints were reinfected in the control group and the experimental group, respectively. At 8 weeks in the control group, the serum CRP level decreased to a greater extent than that measured at the time of debridement, but in the experimental group just at 2 weeks （P lt;0.01）. ESR remained elevated in the control group, but at 4 weeks ESR were significantly lowered compared with that measured at the time of debridement（P lt;0.01）. The test results for the pathogenic organisms revealed that the re-infection incidences were respectively 58.3% (7/12) and 16.7% (2/12) in the control group and the experimental group, with the successful revision rates of 41.7% and 83.3% respectively in the above 2 groups. The light microscopy revealed that therewas a heavy infiltration by the inflammatory cells in the reinfected tissues, but there was a proliferation of the fibrocytes in the tissues of the cured patients. Conclusion Onestage revision arthroplasty can significantly promote the control of the hemiprosthetic hip joint infection in rabbits by the use of VCM-PMMA.

Citation： WANG Ziming,WANG Aimin,TANG Guiyang.. EFFECT OF VANCOMYCIN-LOADED POLYMETHYLMETHACRYLATE ON ONESTAGE REVISION ARTHROPLASTY IN TREATING EXPERIMENTAL HEMIPROSTHETIC HIP INFECTIONS OF RABBITS. Chinese Journal of Reparative and Reconstructive Surgery, 2006, 20(6): 634-639. doi: Copy