Infected total hip replacement after dental procedures

Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol. 1976 Jan;41(1):18-23. doi: 10.1016/0030-4220(76)90247-4.

Abstract

Three cases are reported in which there was a worrisome association between dental work and an infected total hip replacement. The patients had long asymptomatic intervals subsequent to implantation of prosthetic hip joints. After dental procedures, infections became apparent in these hips. Such infections carry an enormous and crippling morbidity. The potential complications of transient bacteremia in the patient with a cardiac valvular prosthesis are appreciated and the importance of prophylactic antibodies for dental work in such patients is well known. Although we emphasize that there is no proof that the infections in our patients were metastatic from the mouth, the sequence of events is suggestive. We recommend prophylactic antibiotics for dental work in the patient with a total hip replacement.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bacterial Infections / etiology*
  • Bacterial Infections / microbiology
  • Dental Restoration, Permanent / adverse effects
  • Female
  • Focal Infection, Dental / complications*
  • Hip*
  • Humans
  • Joint Prosthesis*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Proteus mirabilis / isolation & purification
  • Root Canal Therapy / adverse effects
  • Staphylococcus / isolation & purification
  • Streptococcus / isolation & purification