Temporomandibular Prosthetic Joint Infections Associated With Propionibacterium acnes: A Case Series, and a Review of the Literature.

PURPOSE: The orthopedic literature has shown an increasing incidence of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) associated with Propionibacterium acnes (P acnes). These infections present serious diagnostic and management challenges to the treating surgeons. In this review, the authors report on cases of P acnes-related temporomandibular joint (TMJ) PJIs that have been diagnosed and treated at their institution.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: After approval by the institutional review board, information was obtained through a retrospective chart review. Records were retrieved from clinic visits from January 1, 2010 through January 1, 2015 using appropriate International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes. Data extracted included patient demographics, prostheses details, prosthetic infection history, interventions, diagnostic procedures, and culture processing methods.

RESULTS: Of the 7 patients who met the search criteria, 4 (1 with bilateral prostheses) had cultures positive for P acnes. For the 5 TMJ PJIs with cultures positive for P acnes, tissue cultures were obtained in the operating room and processed using mass spectrometry. Symptoms identified in these 4 patients were vague and included pain and intermittent swelling; clinical and radiographic findings were nonspecific. Treatment regimens included oral and parenteral antibiotics and operative interventions.

CONCLUSIONS: In this case series, the authors report on the management of 4 cases of P acnes-related TMJ PJI. When patients with TMJ prostheses report vague symptoms of swelling and pain that do not fit the typical infection scenario, the surgeon should consider P acnes as a source of infection. Additional case series and retrospective reviews will be necessary before developing prospective trials that could aid in the prevention and management of this infection.