Antibiotic spacer is cement loaded with high-dose antibiotics. The antibiotics flow into the joint and the surrounding tissues and kill the infection. It is placed inside the joint and therefore high dose of antibiotics can be used. Usually this high of a dose cannot be used intravenously because it is a lethal dose. Antibiotic spacers are of two types.
Static and articulating. I use articulating antibiotic spacers because the range of the hip joint is maintained after the articulating spacer. The amount of bone eroded from the infection is decreased because of the articulating joint spacer. Additionally, the revision surgery can be done in a less invasive manner.