Audiometric threshold shifts after total knee arthroplasty by using gentamicin-loaded bone cement

Abstract

Background/aim: The aim of this study was to investigate postoperative audiometric threshold shifts in patients who underwentprimary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) using gentamicin-loaded bone cement (GLBC) in comparison with the ones who underwentTKA without GLBC.Materials and methods: Forty patients (gentamicin group) who underwent primary TKA using GLBC and 29 patients (control group)who underwent primary TKA using standard bone cement were included in this prospective case-control study. Baseline pure-toneaudiometric evaluation was performed preoperatively and repeated at the postoperative third day for all patients. Control audiometricevaluation was performed weekly for patients who were diagnosed with ototoxicity according to audiometric threshold shifts.Results: Ototoxicity was diagnosed in 8 of 40 patients (20%) in the gentamicin group according to postoperative audiometric thresholdshifts, whereas no ototoxicity was observed in the control group. Patients who were diagnosed with ototoxicity had no permanentaudiometric threshold shifts in follow-up audiometric evaluation and these patients had no clinical complaints of difference in hearing.Conclusion: According to our results, audiometric threshold shifts can be detected in patients who undergo primary TKA usinggentamicin loaded bone cement. However, no permanent shifts were observed during close follow-up.