PJI is Devastating, Heraeus Medical is Making Strides in the Fight

YARDLEY, Pennsylvania, July 8, 2024 - Heraeus Medical, a global leader in orthopedic solutions for joint fixation and infection management, affirmed its commitment to the use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement as a way to support orthopedic surgeons to achieve better healing and recovery outcomes with patients undergoing two stage revision arthroplasty.

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating complication of total joint arthroplasty. With an incidence of 1-2% of all primary procedures and a five year-survivorship of 75% (healio.com), PJI diagnosis and treatment need to be fast and effective. Two-stage exchange arthroplasty remains the gold standard PJI treatment. Along with a two-stage exchange there are distinct benefits to utilizing an antibiotic-loaded cement spacer when treating PJI. Antibiotic-loaded bone cement delivers local antibiotics directly to the joint, with the aim to protect the bone cement and surrounding tissue from bacterial colonization.

Heraeus Medical US offers a line of products for two stage revision procedures. They include the COPAL^® knee moulds and the COPAL^® exchange G preformed spacers.

Dr. Emily Hunt, Medical Science Liaison for Heraeus Medical US, noted that periprosthetic joint infections affect more than 30,000 patients each year in the United States and is a clinically devastating complication (Kurtz SM, et al.). She said, “Articulating antibiotic-loaded cement spacers, either prepared with moulds like the COPAL^® knee moulds or preformed such as the COPAL^® exchange G preformed spacers, allow for joint movement with limited weight-bearing and preservation of the joint space. During the spacer interim phase, the patient can be partially mobilized. COPAL^® knee moulds allow for the customization of the cement spacers to the individual patient situation. Patients’ individual defects and anatomy can be accommodated.”

A study in the Journal of Arthroplasty, “The Economic Burden of Periprosthetic Joint Infection in the United States” (Kurtz SM, et al.) estimated the yearly cost exceeding $1.62 billion in the U.S. alone. “PJI can be life-threatening to high-risk patients and costly to hospitals,” said Scott Druhot, Vice President of Marketing, Clinical and Education for Heraeus Medical US. Druhot added, based on feedback from surgeons and care teams, “We are proud to be a leader in bone cement innovation for over 60 years. We have a wide portfolio of bone cements, mixing systems, preformed spacer solutions and a newly launched knee mould. Our mission is simple: to empower healthcare professionals to treat and patients to heal”.