Total Joint Arthroplasty in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus.

With the advent of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), total joint arthroplasty has become a safe and effective procedure for patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). A correlation between a low CD4+ count (<200 cells/mm3) and major postoperative complications such as deep joint infection has been postulated, although high-level studies are not available in the literature. As most studies have not demonstrated an increase in the incidence of deep-vein thrombosis in patients with HIV/AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome), our recommendation is to use the standard prophylaxis that is followed by the operating surgeon.