To investigate the clinical effect of absorbable calcium sulfate in the treatment of early infection after joint replacement.

From August 2015 to January 2018, in Orthopedics Department of Three, Zhongshan Hospital nine patients with early infection after joint replacement were selected for a retrospective analysis. All the cases showed good prosthesis location, without prosthesis loosening. The infection symptoms last for an average period of (10±3)d. All the patients adopted thorough debridement, retaining joint prosthesis. The absorbable drug-loaded calcium sulfate particles were inserted into the articular cavity. During the operation, frozen sections of periarticular soft tissue were taken to confirm the diagnosis of infection. Paired sample t test was performed to compare the routine blood test, erythrocytes sedimentation (ESR), C-reactive protein (CRP), Harris hip score, before and after surgery.

The wound secretion germiculture showed six cases of positive, three cases of negative. All the nine patients were followed up for an average period of (21± 4) months. After the revision, the wounds of eight patients healed well, the prostheses were fixed firmly, and the infections were controlled. The function of hip joint was significantly improved, with Harris score improved from(32.0±7.6) to (87.2±7.7), and the difference was statistically significant (t=3.243, P <0.05). ESR(t=2.117) and CRP(t=3.344) also improved with significance(both P<0.01).

Joint debridement with reserved prosthesis and the placement of absorbable drug-loaded calcium sulfate particles in the joint cavity can be used for the early infection after joint replacement.