2016 AAOS Annual Meeting: A Multi-Center Randomized Clinical Trial of Articulating and Static Spacers for Periprosthetic Hip Infection

36 patients with periprosthetic joint infection following a primary total hip arthroplasty were randomized to undergo a two-stage exchange with either an articulating or static interim antibiotic spacer. The purpose of the study was to compare these two spacers in terms of operative time, blood loss, blood transfusion requirements, and the length of hospital stay. During the first and second stages, both groups displayed comparable results in terms of operative time, blood loss, transfusion requirements, and in the likelihood of being discharged home. However, the length of hospital stay was significantly greater in the static group after both stages.