CLinical Evaluation of ANtiseptic Skin Preparation in Revision Total Joint Arthroplasty of the Hip and Knee

Overview

The goal of this clinical trial is to compare two types of skin preparation solutions (chlorhexidine gluconate-alcohol solution and povidone-iodine solution) that help eliminate harmful bacteria on the skin at the time of surgery for patients having revision arthroplasty surgery of the hip or knee. The main outcome of interest for the definitive study is the need for re-operation for a wound complication or an infection of the prosthetic joint within one year after surgery. For the pilot trial, our main interest is to determine feasibility of a definitive trial. Feasibility outcomes will include: ability to recruit patients, ability to randomize patients, ability to collect complete data, estimate the event rate of our primary outcome, ability to carry out data linkages and determine the accuracy of collected data. Participants will be contacted at two time points after surgery to complete a 5-minute survey: after 30 days, and after 1 year.

In this trial, participants will be assigned randomly to have their surgical skin site prepared for surgery with either chlorhexidine gluconate-alcohol solution or povidone-iodine solution. These are two types of solutions that have antiseptic properties, which means they help eliminate harmful bacteria on the skin at the time of surgery, and therefore, reduce the risk of infection. Surgeons routinely use either chlorhexidine-based or iodine-based skin preparation solutions at the time of surgery to sterilize the surgical area. However, we don't know which one works best for patients having revision joint replacement surgery. There is a small chance of having an allergic reaction to the chlorhexidine or iodine, but there is no additional risk by participating in this study, as these skin preparation solutions are routinely used in practice. The main outcome of interest is the need for re-operation for a wound complication or an infection of the prosthetic joint within one year after surgery. Other key outcomes are surgical site infection, mortality, and readmission to hospital. Participants will be contacted 30 days after surgery to complete a survey online, by phone, or in person, which will take approximately 5 minutes to complete. All other outcome data will be collected by phone call, health records, routine hospital monitoring, or electronic registry data at thirty days and one year after surgery.