Short-interval total femur replacement for infected distal femoral reconstruction
We present the case of a 61-year-old woman, initially treated for distal femoral osteosarcoma with a distal femur replacement (DFR) and multiple prior revisions, who presented with chronic infection of the DFR and catastrophic proximal femoral bone loss, representing a formidable reconstructive challenge. She underwent a novel short-interval two-stage revision consisting of proximal femur resection and placement of a custom antibiotic-loaded total femur spacer, followed 1 week later by definitive total femur replacement. Early follow-up demonstrated infection control and preservation of a functional limb. This case highlights the potential of an abbreviated two-stage approach for limb salvage in complex periprosthetic infections with extensive bone loss.
Authors
- Alexander Kovacs (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8413-1950)
- Joseph Kuechle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9619-3510)
- Matthew G. Alben (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7398-4088)
- Morgan Dillon
- Ryan Riley
- Danil Chernov
- Nicholas Frappa
Institutions
- Jacobs Institute (US)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Journal of Surgical Case Reports
- Published
- 2026-02-12
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/jscr/rjag122
- Primary Topic
- Orthopedic Infections and Treatments
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00