Background
The rise of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) due to aging populations is steadily increasing the number of arthroplasties and treatment costs. This study analyzed the direct health care costs of PJI for total hip arthroplasty and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) in Europe.
Methods
The databases PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Google Scholar were systematically screened for direct costs of PJI in Europe. Publications that defined the joint site and the procedure performed were further analyzed. Mean direct health care costs were calculated for debridement, antibiotics, and implant retention (DAIR), one-stage, and 2-stage revisions for hip and knee PJI, respectively. Costs were adjusted for inflation rates and reported in US-Dollar (USD).
Results
Of 1,374 eligible publications, 12 manuscripts were included in the final analysis after an abstract and full-text review. Mean direct costs of 19,476. For 2-stage revisions of TKA, the mean total cost was 28,904. For hip DAIR, one-stage and 2-stage treatment average costs of 44,594, and $42,166 were identified, respectively. Conclusions Periprosthetic joint infections are associated with substantial direct health care costs. As detailed reports on the cost of PJI are scarce and of limited quality, more detailed financial data on the cost of PJI treatment are urgently required. [math mode missing closing $]