Diagnostic, Treatment and Recovery of Early Infections After ACL Reconstruction A retrospective study

Abstract

The ACL reconstruction is usually a safe procedure and infection is rather uncommon. Despite this, when infection occurs, it has a devastating potential for the knee joint which can result in a poor clinical outcome. Treatment protocol differs, and optimal management has not been established. The purpose of the study was to determine the incidence of postoperative infections after ACL reconstruction on 262 cases of arthroscopic ACL reconstructions which were operated in a period of 4 years (2014 -2017), with a follow-up period of minimum 12 months. Six cases (2.29 %) with infections were identified and analyzed in regard to clinical presentation, microbiological findings and therapeutic approach. In three out of six cases the germ identified in the aspirate from the joint was coagulase-negative staphylococci (50%); other germs were gr. D. Streptococcus (16%) and E. Coli (16%). In one case, we did not identify the germ. The surgical intervention was conducted in the first 12 h from admission. All these cases underwent aggressive arthroscopic debridement and antibiotic treatment. Eradication was achieved in all patients with graft retention in 5 cases (83.3%) and graft removal in one case. The mean duration of antibiotic treatment was 6 weeks and no recurrence of the infection was seen.