Changes in general status of the rats. (A) Changes in body temperature throughout the experiment. An electronic thermometer for animals and an infrared thermometer were used to measure the anal and rectal temperatures of the rats. The body temperature of rats in each group was measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 4, 7, and 14. (B) The weights of rats in each group were measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 4, 7, and 14. (C) The maximal medial-lateral knee width of rats in each group was measured preoperatively and on postoperative days 1, 4, 7, and 14. Control, no antibiotics; SV, systemic vancomycin (88 mg/kg, intraperitoneal injection, 30 min preoperation); VP0.5: vancomycin powder, 44 mg/kg, once intra-articularly before closure of the knee capsule in the TKA surgery; VP1.0: intra-articular vancomycin powder, 88 mg/kg; VP2.0: intra-articular vancomycin powder, 176 mg/kg. Data were compared by two-way ANOVA. n = 12. *, P < 0.05, and **, P < 0.01 (compared with the control group); #, P < 0.05, and ##, P < 0.01 (compared with the SV group), ΔΔ, P < 0.01 (compared with the VP0.5 group).