From 1976 to 1985, 157 periprosthetic infections after knee arthroplasty were treated surgically at the ENDO-Klinik in Hamburg. Of these, 118 cases underwent one-stage revision arthroplasty using specific antibiotic-loaded cement; 104 were available for analysis after a postoperative follow-up period of 5-15 years. Seventy-six cases were cured as a result of this single operation. This number was increased to 84 by a repeated operation in cases that had failed to respond to therapy. In 20 cases one-stage revision arthroplasty failed in the treatment of periprosthetic infections after replacement of the knee joint.