Method and patients

The study was performed as a multicentre, proof-of-concept, observational study with prospective data collection. Inclusion of patients with a chronic periprosthetic hip joint infection (PJI) were followed by protocolled surgical treatment (cementless one-stage revision - the CORIHA protocol) at one of 8 participating departments of orthopaedic surgery between 2009 – 2014, and the patients enrolled in a 2-year follow-up program. A PJI were diagnosed based on adopted criteria from McPherson and Zimmerli. At the time of initiation of the study in 2009, the collaborating departments performed approximately one-fourth of all nationwide primary HJR and more than one-third of all revisions.

In total 56 PJI patients with a median age of 72 years and a median pre-operative ASA score of 2 met the established eligibility criteria and accepted to participate; 31 (55%) were males.

The cohort had a mean follow-up time of 4.0 years, with all patients followed for minimum 2 years.

The primary outcome were relapse described as re-revision due to infection (regardless of considered as a relapse or new infection). This was evaluated by competing risk analysis (competing risks: aseptic revisions and death).

Secondary, all-cause mortality was evaluated by survival analysis.

The study was approved by the local Committees on Biomedical Research Ethics.