Title: Does Presoaking of Autografts in Vancomycin Reduces the risk of Infection After ACL Reconstruction (?):  A Retrospective Study

Authors: Bijayendra Nath Chaturvedi, Omprakash Bhimwal, Shikha Dhaundiyal, Davinder Singh

 DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v8i9.28

Abstract

Background: infections in ACL reconstruction surgery varies from frank septic arthritis to mild discharge at site of tibial tunnel. Since it is devastating complication both for patient as well as surgeon, and autografts are a frequent source of infection. To prevent this complication, a retrospective study was carried out by pre-soaking of autografts in Vancomycin to reduce the risk of infection.

Purpose: Purpose of this study is to determine whether the presoaking of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) autograft in Vancomycin reduces the rate of infection following an ACL reconstruction or not.

Materials and Methods: A retrospective study of 1836 patients that consecutively underwent primary arthroscopic ACL Reconstructions with four stranded single bundle Hamstrings autograft over four years at our institute was performed. In the initial 2 years period, the patients 963 patients received preoperative IV antibiotics (group 1). In the following 2 years period, 873 patients received preoperative IV antibiotics along with the graft was presoaked in a vancomycin solution (group 2). Presoaking was performed with sterile gauze previously saturated with a vancomycin solution (5 mg/ml).

Results: There were 963 and 873 patients in group 1 and 2, respectively. Eighteen cases of joint infections were identified in the series (0.98%). All of these infections occurred in group 1, representing a rate of infection of 1.86 % in comparison with 0 % in group 2 (p < 0.001).

Conclusions: Presoaking of autograft with vancomycin in combination with perioperative intravenous antibiotic prophylaxis reduced the rate of knee joint infection following an ACL Reconstruction in comparison with perioperative i.v antibiotic prophylaxis alone. This technique could be of relevance in daily clinical practice to prevent infection after ACLR.

Study Design: Case control & Retrospective comparative study; Level of evidence, 3.

Keywords: Vancomycin, Anterior cruciate ligament, pre-soaking, septic arthritis, Antibiotic prophylaxis, Biofilm.

References

  1. Cadet ER, Makhni EC, Mehran N, Schulz BM (2013) Management of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a review of current practices and recommendations. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 21(11):647–656
  2. Judd D, Bottoni C, Kim D, Burke M, Hooker S (2006) Infections following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 22(4):375–384
  3. Mouzopoulos G, Fotopoulos VC, Tzurbakis M (2009) Septic knee arthritis following ACL reconstruction: a systematic review. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 17(9):1033–1042
  4. Barker JU, Drakos MC, Maak TG, Warren RF, Williams RJ 3rd, Allen AA (2009) Effect of graft selection on the incidence of postoperative infection in anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Am J Sports Med 38(2):281–286
  5. Judd D, Bottoni C, Kim D, Burke M, Hooker S (2006) Infections following arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 22(4):375–384
  6. Maletis GB, Inacio MC, Reynolds S, Desmond JL, Maletis MM, Funahashi TT (2013) Incidence of postoperative anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction infections: graft choice makes a difference. Am J Sports Med 41(8):1780–1785
  7. Sonnery-Cottet B, Archbold P, Zayni R, Bortolletto J, Thaunat M, Prost T, Padua VB, Chambat P (2011) Prevalence of septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction among professional athletes. Am J Sports Med 39(11):2371–2376
  8. Wang C, Lee YH, Siebold R (2014) Recommendations for the management of septic arthritis after ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22(9):2136–2144
  9. Armstrong RW, Bolding F, Joseph R (1992) Septic arthritis following arthroscopy: clinical syndromes and analysis of risk factors. Arthroscopy 8(2):213–223
  10. Schollin-Borg M, Michaelsson K, Rahme H (2003) Presentation, outcome, and cause of septic arthritis after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a case control study. Arthroscopy 19(9):941–947
  11. Kim YM, Joo YB (2012) Clinical presentation of staphylococcus epidermidis septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Relat Res 24(1):46–51
  12. Sonnery-Cottet B, Thaunat M, Archbold P, Issartel B, Cadet ER (2014) Management of septic arthritis following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a review of current practices and recommendations. J Am Acad Orthop Surg 22(5):271–273
  13. Torres-Claramunt R, Pelfort X, Erquicia J, Gil-Gonzalez S, Gelber PE, Puig L, Monllau JC (2012) Knee joint infection after ACL reconstruction: prevalence, management and functional outcomes. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21(12):2844–2849
  14. Wang C, Lee YH, Siebold R (2014) Recommendations for the management of septic arthritis after ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 22(9):2136–2144
  15. Trampuz A, Zimmerli W (2006) Antimicrobial agents in orthopaedic surgery: prophylaxis and treatment. Drugs 66(8):1089–1105
  16. Tanner J, Norrie P, Melen K (2011) Preoperative hair removal to reduce surgical site infection. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 9(11):CD004122
  17. Vertullo CJ, Quick M, Jones A, Grayson JE (2013) A surgical technique using presoaked vancomycin hamstring grafts to decrease the risk of infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy 28(3):337–342
  18. Dhammi IK, Ul Haq R, Kumar S. Prophylactic antibiotics in orthopedic surgery: controversial issues in its use. Indian J Orthop. 2015;49(4): 373-376.
  19. Jefferies JG, Aithie JMS, Spencer SJ. Vancomycin-soaked wrapping of harvested hamstring tendons during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction: a review of the “vancomycin wrap.” Knee. 2019; 26(3):524-529.
  20. Pe ´rez-Prieto D, Portillo ME, Torres-Claramunt R, Pelfort X, Hinarejos P, Monllau JC. Contamination occurs during ACL graft harvesting and manipulation, but it can be easily eradicated. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2018;26 (2): 558-562.
  21. Vertullo CJ, Quick M, Jones A, Grayson JE. A surgical technique using presoaked vancomycin hamstring grafts to decrease the risk of infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Arthroscopy. 2012;28(3):337-342.
  22. Naendrup JH, Marche B, de Sa D, et al. Vancomycin-soaking of the graft reduces the incidence of septic arthritis following ACL reconstruction: results of a systematic review and meta-analysis [published online January 17, 2019]. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. doi: 10.1007/s00167-019-05353-1
  23. Offerhaus C, Balke M, Hente J, Gehling M, Blendl S, Ho ¨her J.Vancomycin pre-soaking of the graft reduces postoperative infection rate without increasing risk of graft failure and arthrofibrosis in ACL reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2019;27(9):3014-3021.
  24. Pe ´rez-Prieto D, Torres-Claramunt R, Gelber PE, Shehata TM, Pelfort X, Monllau JC. Autograft soaking in vancomycin reduces the risk of infection after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc. 2016;24(9):2724-2728.
  25. Grayson JE, Grant GD, Dukie S, Vertullo CJ. The in vitro elution characteristics of vancomycin from tendons. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2011; 469(10):2948-2952.
  26. Viola R, Marzano N, Vianello R. An unusual epidemic of Staphylococcus negative infections involving anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with salvage of the graft and function. Arthroscopy. 2000;16(2): 173-177
  27. Grayson JE, Grant GD, Dukie S, Vertullo CJ (2011) The in vitro elution characteristics of vancomycin from tendons. Clin Orthop Relat Res 469(10):2948–2952
  28. Abdel-Aziz A, Radwan YA, Rizk A (2013) Multiple arthroscopic debridement and graft retention in septic knee arthritis after ACL reconstruction: a prospective case-control study. Int Orthop 38(1):73–82
  29. Portillo ME, Corvec S, Borens O, Trampuz A (2013) Propionibacterium acnes: an underestimated pathogen in implant-associated infections. Biomed Res Int 2013:804391
  30. Hanssen AD (2005) Local antibiotic delivery vehicles in the treatment of musculoskeletal infection. Clin Orthop Relat Res 437:91–96
  31. Wasko MK, Borens O (2013) Antibiotic cement nail for the treatment of posttraumatic intramedullary infections of the tibia: midterm results in 10 cases. Injury 44(8):1057–1060.
  32. Edin ML, Miclau T, Lester GE, Lindsey RW, Dahners LE (1996) Effect of cefazolin and vancomycin on osteoblasts in vitro. Clin Orthop Relat Res 333:245–251
  33. Plante MJ, Li X, Scully G, Brown MA, Busconi BD, DeAngelis NA (2013) Evaluation of sterilization methods following contamination of hamstring autograft during anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. Knee Surg Sports Traumatol Arthrosc 21(3):696–701
  34. Gelber PE, Reina F, Torres R, Monllau JC (2010) Effect of femoral tunnel length on the safety of anterior cruciate ligament graft fixation using cross-pin technique: a cadaveric study. Am J Sports Med 38(9):1877–1884
  35. Gelber PE, Reina F, Torres R, Monllau JC (2010) Effect of femoral tunnel length on the safety of anterior cruciate ligament graft fixation using cross-pin technique: a cadaveric study. Am J Sports Med 38(9):1877–1884.

Corresponding Author

Dr Bijayendra Nath Chaturvedi

Senior Resident (Orthopaedics), Sports Injury Center (SIC, Ortho), VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India