Findings from a study published online in The Journal of Arthroplasty suggest that débridement, antibiotics, irrigation, and implant retention (DAIR) may be an option for treatment of hip periprosthetic joint infections (PJI) in certain patients, especially during the early postoperative period. 

The authors reviewed data on 122 DAIRs performed over a 16-year period. Overall, 67 percent of DAIRs were of primary arthroplasties, and 60 percent were performed within 6 weeks of the index arthroplasty. They found that infection eradication was achieved in 104 cases (85 percent) using a single or multiple DAIR approach, and 10-year implant survivorship was 77 percent. In 32 cases, more than one DAIR was required. "Early PJI and exchanging modular components at DAIR were independent factors for a four-fold increased infection eradication and improved long-term implant survival," the authors write. They also caution that DAIR is associated with increased morbidity, and a risk of further surgery and instability. Learn more...