Background Treatment of chronic periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) after TKA is limited to fusions, above-theknee amputations (AKAs), revision TKA, and antibiotic suppression and is often based on the patient's medical condition. However, when both fusion and AKA are options, it is important to compare these two procedures with regard to function. Questions/purposes Do patients receiving a knee fusion for PJI after TKA have better function compared to patients receiving an AKA?Methods We retrospectively reviewed patients who were eligible for either fusion or AKA after PJI TKA. Thirtyseven patients underwent a fusion for PJIs after TKA between 1999 and 2010. Nine patients died postoperatively and eight patients were lost to followup, leaving 20 patients. Patients completed a specialized questionnaire about their fusion, and functional capability was assessed by the SF-12. We compared fusions to a previously published group of six patients who underwent AKA for recurrent PJI after TKA.

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