Original Research
Wichita Fusion Nail for Patients With Failed Total Knee Arthroplasty and Active Infection
Am J Orthop. 2008 January;37(1):E6-E10
Author and Disclosure Information
Wael K. Barsoum, MD, Christopher Hogg, DO, Viktor Krebs, MD, and Alison K. Klika, MS
Dr. Barsoum is a Staff Surgeon and Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dr. Hogg was a Fellow in the section of Adult Reconstruction at the time of manuscript preparation, Dr. Krebs is a Staff Surgeon and the Section Head of Adult Reconstruction, and Ms. Klika is a Research Coordinator, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio.
In the study reported here, we retrospectively evaluated short-term results of knee arthrodesis using the Wichita® fusion nail (WFN) in patients with active infection.
Clinical examinations, x-rays, time to union, knee pain after fusion, and ambulatory status were compared in 7 patients who received the WFN. Mean fusion rate was
86%, mean time to fusion was 9.8 months, and mean complication rate was 57%. Complication rates were high, but clinical outcomes were acceptable, supporting
use of WFN as a reasonable way to salvage failed total knee arthroplasty in patients with active infection.