Two-stage revision in periprosthetic knee joint infections

Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)following total knee arthroplasty is one of the most catastrophic and costly complications that carries significant patient wellness as well as economic burdens.The road to efficiently diagnosing and treating PJI is challenging,as there is still no gold standard method to reach the diagnosis as early as desired.There are also international controversies with respect to the best approach to manage PJI cases.In this review,we highlight recent advances in managing PJI following knee arthroplasty surgery and discuss in depth the two-stage revision method.

Knowledge and attitudes of orthopedic surgeons regarding prosthesis joint infection

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)is a critical complication after joint arthroplasty and is accompanied by increasing rates of morbidity and mortality.Several studies have aimed at preventing PJI.AIM To research the knowledge level and attitudes of orthopedic surgeons,who play a key role in both preventing and managing PJI.METHODS We conducted a web-based survey to evaluate orthopedic surgeons'knowledge level and attitudes regarding PJI.The Likert scale survey utilized consisted of 30 questions which were prepared based on the"Proceedings of the International Consensus on Periprosthetic Joint Infection".RESULTS A total of 264 surgeons participated in the survey.Their average age was 44.8,and 173 participants(65.5%)had more than 10 years of experience.No statistically significant relationship was found between the PJI knowledge of the surgeons and their years of experience.However,participants who worked in training and research hospitals demonstrated higher levels of knowledge than the ones in the state hospitals.It was also noticed that surgeons'knowledge concerning the duration of antibiotic therapy and urinary infections was not consistent with their attitudes.CONCLUSION Even though orthopedic surgeons have adequate knowledge about preventing and managing PJI,their attitudes might contradict their knowledge.Future studies are required to examine the causes and solutions of the contradictions between orthopedic surgeons'knowledge and attitudes.

Candidal periprosthetic joint infection after primary total knee arthroplasty combined with ipsilateral intertrochanteric fracture: A case report

BACKGROUND Candidal periprosthetic joint infection is a rare and difficult to diagnose complication of total knee arthroplasty.The treatment of such complications is inconclusive and may include prosthesis removal,debridement,arthrodesis,and extensive antifungal therapy to control the infection.CASE SUMMARY A 62-year-old male with a history of total knee arthroplasty(TKA)in his left knee presented with ipsilateral knee pain and a sinus discharge 20 mo after TKA.The patient was previously evaluated for left knee pain,swelling,and a transient fever one month postoperatively.Prothesis removal and insertion of a cement spacer were performed in a local hospital six months prior to the current presentation.Medical therapy included rifampicin and amphotericin which were administered for 4 wk following prosthesis removal.A second debridement was performed in our hospital and Candida parapsilosis was detected in the knee joint.Fourteen weeks following the latter debridement,the patient suffered a left intertrochanteric fracture and received closed reduction and internal fixation with proximal femoral nail anterotation.Two weeks after fracture surgery,a knee arthrodesis with autograft was performed using a double-plate fixation.The patient recovered adequately and was subsequently discharged.At the two-year follow-up,the patient has a stable gait with a pain-free,fused knee.CONCLUSION Fungal periprosthetic joint infection following TKA may be successfully and safely treated with prosthesis removal,exhaustive debridement,and arthrodesis after effective antifungal therapy.Ipsilateral intertrochanteric fractures of the affected knee can be safely fixated with internal fixation if the existing infection is clinically excluded and aided by the investigation of serum inflammatory markers.

Risk of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infection in elective total hip and knee arthroplasty following eradication therapy

BACKGROUND Prosthetic joint infection(PJI)is a devastating complication requiring prolonged treatment and multiple operations,leading to significant morbidity for the patient.Patients are routinely tested for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus(MRSA)colonisation.MRSA positive patients are given eradication therapy.We hypothesise that patients who are MRSA positive pre-operatively,have increased risk of developing PJI.AIM To identify deep wound infection(PJI)rates in patients who are colonised MRSA positive compared with those who are not colonised;and long term clinical and radiological outcomes.METHODS All patients who underwent total hip and knee replacements(THR/TKR)between December 2009 and December 2019 were identified.Patients who were also identified as being MRSA positive at pre-operative assessment were then selected.Confirmation of prescribing eradication treatment was recorded.Patient records,including consultation letters,operation notes and microbiology results were reviewed retrospectively.Comparison of outcomes for each MRSA positive patient was made with 2 MRSA negative patients undergoing the same operation of a similar age by the same consultant.RESULTS Screening identified 42 knee and 32 hip arthroplasty patients as MRSA positive,84 MRSA negative knee and 64 hip patients were reviewed.Patients were matched with medical co-morbidities in each group.Mean follow up was 5 years.PJI was identified in 4/32(12.5%)of THR MRSA positive and 3/42(7%)of TKR patients.All patients had PJI within one year of surgery.CONCLUSION MRSA positive patients are given eradication therapy routinely.However,no confirmation of eradication is sought.Patients who have MRSA colonisation preoperatively,in our study had a significantly increased risk of PJI,when compared to negative patients.We would recommend establishing true eradication after treatment prior to arthroplasty.

Technetium-99m-labeled annexin V imaging for detecting prosthetic joint infection in a rabbit model

Accurate and timely diagnosis of prosthetic joint infection is essential to initiate early treatment and achieve a favorable outcome. In this study, we used a rabbit model to assess the feasibility of technetium-99m-labeled annexin V for detecting prosthetic joint infection. Right knee arthroplasty was performed on 24 New Zealand rabbits. After surgery, methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus was intra-articularly injected to create a model of prosthetic joint infection （the infected group, n = 12）. Rabbits in the control group were injected with sterile saline （n= 12）. Seven and 21 days after surgery, technetium-99m-labeled annexin V imaging was per- formed in 6 rabbits of each group. Images were acquired 1 and 4 hours after injection of technetium-99m- labeled annexin V （150 MBq）. The operated-to-normal-knee activity ratios were calculated for quantitative ana- lysis. Seven days after surgery, increased technetium-99m-labeled annexin V uptake was observed in all cases. However, at 21 days a notable decrease was found in the control group, but not in the infected group. The operated-to-normal-knee activity ratios of the infected group were 1.84 ±0.29 in the early phase and 2.19 ±0.34 in the delay phase, both of which were significantly higher than those of the control group （P=0.03 and P=0.02）. The receiver operator characteristic curve analysis showed that the operated-to-normal-knee activity ratios of the delay phase at 21 days was the best indicator, with an accuracy of 80%. In conclusion, technetium- 99m-labeled annexin V imaging could effectively distinguish an infected prosthetic joint from an uninfected prosthetic joint in a rabbit model.

Good accuracy of the alpha-defensin lateral flow test for hip periprosthetic joint infection: A pilot study in a retrospective cohort of 52 patients

BACKGROUND The alpha-defensin lateral flow(ADLF)test is a new diagnostic tool for periprosthetic joint infection(PJI).Test accuracy for combined cohorts of hip and knee PJI has been reported to be good.AIM To assess the accuracy of the ADLF test for hip PJI,and to compare three different diagnostic criteria for PJI.METHODS A cohort of 52 patients was identified,with a painful or poor-functioning total hip-or hemi-arthroplasty,that underwent aspiration and a subsequent ADLF test.PJI was diagnosed with Musculoskeletal Infection Society(MSIS)criteria,and sensitivity,specificity,overall accuracy,positive predictive value and negative predictive value were calculated.Furthermore,test specifics were compared with the European Bone and Joint Infection Society(EBJIS)and 2018 International Consensus Meeting(ICM)criteria for PJI.RESULTS Using MSIS criteria,sensitivity was 100%(CI:54%-100%)and specificity was 89%(CI:76%-96%).Six true positives and 5 false positives were found,including one case of metallosis.Using EBJIS criteria,more PJIs were found(11 vs 6),sensitivity was lower(71%,CI:42%-92%)and specificity was higher(97%,CI:86%-100%),with 4 false negatives and one false positive result.Using 2018 ICM criteria,sensitivity was 91%(62%-100%)and specificity 100%(91%-100%).The results in this cohort are comparable to previous studies.CONCLUSION Overall test accuracy of the ADLF test was good in this cohort,with a sensitivity of 100%and specificity of 89%.Using different PJI definition criteria,sensitivity and specificity changed slightly but overall accuracy remained around 90%.Using the ADLF test in metallosis cases can result in false positive results and should be performed with caution.

Analysis of the clinical efficacy of two-stage revision surgery in the treatment of periprosthetic joint infection in the knee:A retrospective study

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)is a catastrophic complication that can occur following total knee arthroplasty(TKA).Currently,the treatment for PJI mainly includes the use of antibiotics alone,prosthetic debridement lavage,primary revision,secondary revision,joint fusion,amputation,etc.AIM To explore the clinical effect of two-stage revision surgery for the treatment of PJI after TKA.METHODS The clinical data of 27 patients(3 males and 24 females;age range,47–80 years;mean age,66.7±8.0 years;27 knees)with PJI treated with two-stage revision surgery in our hospital between January 1,2010 and December 31,2020 were analyzed retrospectively.The following outcomes were compared for changes between preoperative and last follow-up results:Erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),C-reactive protein(CRP),visual analogue scale(VAS)scores,Hospital for Special Surgery(HSS)scores,knee range of motion(ROM),and infection cure rates.RESULTS All 27 patients were followed up(range,13–112 mo).The ESR(14.5±6.3 mm/h)and CRP(0.6±0.4 mg/dL)of the patients at the last follow-up were significantly lower than those at admission;the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).The postoperative VAS score(1.1±0.7),HSS score(82.3±7.1),and knee ROM(108.0°±19.7°)were significantly improved compared with those before the surgery;the difference was statistically significant(P<0.001).Of the 27 patients,26 were cured of the infection,whereas 1 case had an infection recurrence;the infection control rate was 96.3%.CONCLUSION Two-stage revision surgery can effectively relieve pain,control infection,and retain good joint function in the treatment of PJI after TKA.

Diagnostic value of serum Interleukin-6 combined with synovial IL-6 and C-reactive protein for prosthesis joint infection in patients after joint arthroplasty

Objective:To explore the diagnostic value of serum Interleukin-6(IL-6)combined with synovial IL-6 and C-reactive protein for prosthesis joint infection(PJI)in patients after joint arthroplasty.Methods:A total of 253 patients undergoing revision surgery after the first total hip and total knee arthroplasty in the Second Affiliated Hospital of Hainan Medical College from January 2018 to April 2020 were recruited as the study object.The patients were divided into the PJI group(n=85)and non-PJI group(n=168)according to whether there was PJI,and the baseline characteristics and the laboratory indexe were collected and compared between the two groups.the factors associated with PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty were analyzed by multivariate logistic regression model.And the diagnostic value of each marker for PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty was evaluated by Receiver Operating Characteristic(ROC)curve.Results:The incidence of PJI in this study was 33.6%.Compared with the non-PJI group,the patients in the PJI group had more diabetes mellitus and shorter prosthesis duration(P<0.05).The levels of serum C-reactive protein(CRP),serum interleukin-6(IL-6),synovial IL-6,synovial CRP,synovial leukocyte,synovial neutrophil and ESR in the PJI group were higher than those in non-PJI group,and the level of synovial lymphocyte was lower,with statistically significant differences(P<0.05).Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that diabetes mellitus(OR=1.706,95%CI:1.02~2.376,P=0.037),prosthesis duration(OR=0.781,95%CI:0.690~0.884,P<0.001),serum IL-6(OR=1.008,95%CI:1.004~1.012,P=0.046),synovial IL-6(OR=1.004,95%CI:1.002~1.006,P=0.011)and synovial CRP(OR=1.481,95%CI:1.010~2.170,P=0.044)were independently related to PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty.ROC curve analysis showed that the area under ROC curve(AUC)of serum IL-6 combined with synovial IL-6 and CRP for diagnose PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty was significantly greater than each marker(0.941 vs 0.760,Z=6.333,P<0.001;0.941 vs 0.743,Z=7.189,P<0.001;0.941 vs 0.785,Z=4.999,P=0.006).Conclusion:Serum IL-6,synovial IL-6 and CRP were independently related to PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty.They all had some diagnostic value,and serum IL-6 combined with synovial IL-6 and CRP had higher capability to diagnose PJI in patients after joint arthroplasty than each marker alone.

Periprosthetic joint infections in femoral neck fracture patients treated with hemiarthroplasty–should we use antibiotic-loaded bone cement?

BACKGROUND Hemiarthroplasty is the most common treatment in elderly patients with displaced intra-capsular femoral neck fracture(FNF).Prosthetic joint infection(PJI)is one of the most feared and frequent complications post-surgery because of the frail health status of these patients and the need for fast track surgery.Therefore,priorities should lie in effective preventive strategies to mitigate this burden.AIM To determine how much the implementation of the routine use of antibioticloaded bone cement(ALBC)as a relatively easy-to-apply amendment to the surgical practice reduces the infection rate in our hemiarthroplasty cohort.METHODS We retrospectively assessed all demographic,health status and treatment-related data of our FNF patients undergoing cemented hemiarthroplasty in the period from 2011 to 2017;241 patients were further analyzed after exclusion of patients with cancer-related sequelae and those who died before the end of the 1-year observation period.The PJI rate as diagnosed on basis of the Musculoskeletal Infection Society(MSIS)criteria 2011 was determined for each included patient and compared in function of the bone cement used for hip stem fixation.Patients were split into a group receiving a plain bone cement in the period from January 2011 to June 2013(non-ALBC group)and into a group receiving an ALBC in the period July 2013 to December 2017(ALBC group).Data analysis was performed with statistical software.We further calculated the cost-efficacy of the implementation of routine use of ALBC in the second group balancing the inhospital infection related treatment costs with the extra costs of use of ALBC.RESULTS In total 241 FNF patients who received cemented hemiarthroplasty in the period from January 2011 to January 2017 were eligible for inclusion in this retrospective study.There were 8 PJI cases identified in the ALBC group among n=94 patients,whereas 28 PJI cases were observed in the non-ALBC group among n=147 patients.The statistical analysis showed an infection risk reduction of 55.3%(in particular due to the avoidance of chronic delayed infections)in the ALBC group(95%CI:6.2%-78.7%;P=0.0025).The cost-evaluation analysis demonstrated a considerable cost saving of 3.500€per patient,related to the implementation of routine use of ALBC in this group.CONCLUSION Use of ALBC is a potent infection preventive factor in FNF patients receiving cemented hemiarthroplasties.It was further found to be highly cost-effective.

Prosthetic joint infection of the hip and knee due to Mycobacterium species:A systematic review

BACKGROUND Mycobacterium species(Mycobacterium sp)is an emerging cause of hip and knee prosthetic joint infection(PJI),and different species of this organism may be responsible for the same.AIM To evaluate the profile of hip and knee Mycobacterium PJI cases as published in the past 30 years.METHODS A literature search was performed in PubMed using the MeSH terms“Prosthesis joint infection”AND“Mycobacterium”for studies with publication dates from January 1,1990,to May 30,2021.To avoid missing any study,another search was performed with the terms“Arthroplasty infection”AND“Mycobacterium”in the same period as the previous search.The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses chart was used to evaluate the included studies for further review.In total,51 studies were included for further evaluation of thecases,type of pathogen,and treatment of PJI caused by Mycobacterium sp.RESULTS Seventeen identified Mycobacterium sp were reportedly responsible for hip/knee PJI in 115 hip/knee PJI cases,whereas in two cases there was no mention of any specific Mycobacterium sp.Mycobacterium tuberculosis(M.tuberculosis)was detected in 50/115(43.3%)of the cases.Nontuberculous mycobacteria(NTM)included M.fortuitum(26/115,22.6%),M.abscessus(10/115,8.6%),M.chelonae(8/115,6.9%),and M.bovis(8/115,6.9%).Majority of the cases(82/114,71.9%)had an onset of infection>3 mo after the index surgery,while in 24.6%(28/114)the disease had an onset in≤3 mo.Incidental intraoperative PJI diagnosis was made in 4 cases(3.5%).Overall,prosthesis removal was needed in 77.8%(84/108)of the cases to treat the infection.Overall infection rate was controlled in 88/102(86.3%)patients with Mycobacterium PJI.Persistent infection occurred in 10/108(9.8%)patients,while 4/108(3.9%)patients died due to the infection.CONCLUSION At least 17 Mycobacterium sp can be responsible for hip/knee PJI.Although M.tuberculosis is the most common causal pathogen,NTM should be considered as an emerging cause of hip/knee PJI.

Systematic review of single stage revision for prosthetic joint infection

While advanced technology,increased medical knowledge and improved surgical technique has improved patient outcomes in total joint arthroplasty,prosthetic joint infection still remains one of the leading causes of increased healthcare costs,medical resources and societal burdens in orthopaedic care.Two stage arthroplasty revision remains the gold standard for treatment of prosthetic joint infection.Proponents of single stage revision arthroplasty for infection argue that it results in lower healthcare costs while improving patient reported functional outcomes and with equivalent success rates.Here we review the history of single stage revision arthroplasty,discuss the key principles,highlight the indications and contraindications,and review the reported outcomes with a focus on future developments of single stage revision arthroplasty for hip and knee periprosthetic joint infections.

Preoperative and postoperative risk factors for periprosthetic joint infection in primary total hip arthroplasty:A 1-year experience

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)in primary total hip replacement(THR)is one of the most important threats in orthopedic surgery,so one important surgeon’s target is to avoid or early diagnose a PJI.Although the incidence of PJI is very low(0.69%)in our department,with an average follow-up of 595 d,this infection poses a serious threat due to the difficulties of treatment and the lower functional outcomes after healing.AIM To study the incidence of PJI in all operations occurring in the year 2016 in our department to look for predictive signs of potential infection.METHODS We counted 583 THR for 578 patients and observed only 4 cases of infection(0.69%)with a mean follow-up of 596 d(min 30,max 1451).We reviewed all medical records to collect the data:duration and time of the surgery,presence,type and duration of the antibiotic therapy,preoperative diagnosis,blood values before and after surgery,transfusions,presence of preoperative drugs(in particularly anticoagulants and antiaggregant,corticosteroids and immunosuppressants),presence of some comorbidities(high body mass index,blood hypertension,chronic obstructive pulmonary disease,cardiac ischemia,diabetes,rheumatological conditions,previous local infections).RESULTS No preoperative,intraoperative,or postoperative analysis showed a higher incidence of PJI.We did not find any class with evident major odds of PJI.In our study,we did not find any border value to predict PJI and all patients had similar values in both groups(non-PJI and PJI).Only some categories,such as female patients,showed more frequency of PJI,but this difference related to sex was not statistically significant.CONCLUSION We did not find any category with a higher risk of PJI in THR,probably due to the lack of few cases of infection.

Risk of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus prosthetic joint infection in elective total hip and knee arthroplasty following eradication therapy

Re-screening following methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) decolonization will be helpful to minimize the development of prosthetic joint infection among MRSA colonizers.

Synovial Fluid C-reactive Protein as a Diagnostic Marker for Periprosthetic Joint Infection： A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background： Periprosthetic joint infection （PJI） is the main cause of failure following total joint arthroplasty. Until now, the diagnosis of PJI is still confronted with technical limitations, and the question of whether synovial fluid biomarker, C-reactive protein （CRP）, can provide high value in the diagnosis of PJl remains unanswered and, therefore, was the aim of the study. Methods： First, we conducted a systematic review on CRP in the diagnosis of PJI by searching online databases using keywords such as ＂periprosthetic joint infection＂, ＂synovial fluid＂, and ＂C-reactive protein＂. Eligible studies providing sufficient data to construct 2 × 2 contingency tables were then selected based on the list of criteria and the quality of included studies was assessed subsequently. Finally, the reported sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic odds ratio （DOR）, summary receiver operating characteristic （SROC） curve, and the area under the SROC （AUSROC） were pooled together and used to evaluate overall diagnostic performance. Results： Seven studies were included in our review, six of which comprising a total of 456 participants were further investigated in our meta-analysis. The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and DOR were 0.92 （95% confidence interval [CI]： 0.86-0.96）, 0.90 （95% CI： 0.87-0.93）, and 101.40 （95% CI： 48.07-213.93）, respectively. The AUSROC was 0.9663 （standard error, 0.0113）. Conclusions： Synovial fluid CRP is a good biomarker for the diagnosis of PJI with high sensitivity and specificity.

Comprehensive meta-analysis of antibiotic-impregnated bone cement versus plain bone cement in primary total knee arthroplasty for preventing periprosthetic joint infection

Purpose:Antibiotic-loaded bone cement(ALBC)was usually used to prevent periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)in primary total knee arthroplasty(PTKA),but whether to use ALBC or plain bone cement in PTKA remains unclear.We aimed to compare the occurrence rate of PJI using two different cements,and to investigate the efficacy of different antibiotic types and doses administered in preventing surgical site infection(SSI)with ALBC.Methods:The availability of ALBC for preventing PJI was evaluated by using a systematic review and meta-analysis referring to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines.Existing articles until December 2021 involving PTKA patients with both ALBC and plain bone cement cohorts were scanned by searching"total knee arthroplasty","antibiotic-loaded cement","antibiotic prophylaxis","antibiotic-impregnated cement"and"antibiotic-laden cement"in the database of PubMed/MEDLINE,Embase,Web of Science and the Cochrane Library.Subgroup analysis included the effectiveness of different antibiotic types and doses in preventing SSI with ALBC.The modified Jadad scale was employed to score the qualities of included articles.Results:Eleven quantitative studies were enrolled,including 34,159 knees undergoing PTKA.The meta-analysis results demonstrated that the use of prophylactic ALBC could significantly reduce the prevalence of deep incisional SSI after PTKA,whereas there was no significant reduction in the rate of superficial incisional SSI.Moreover,gentamicin-loaded cement was effective in preventing deep incisional SSI,and the use of high-dose ALBC significantly reduced the rate of deep incisional SSI after PTKA.Besides,no significant adverse reactions and complications were stated during the use of ALBC in PTKA.Conclusion:The preventive application of ALBC during PTKA could reduce the rates of deep PJI.Furthermore,bone cement containing gentamicin and high-dose ALBC could even better prevent deep infection after PTKA.However,the existing related articles are mostly single-center and retrospective studies,and further high-quality ones are needed for confirmation.

Fungal periprosthetic joint infection:Rare but challenging problem

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most difficult complication following total joint arthroplasty. Most of the etiological strains, accounting for over 98% of PJI, are bacterial species, with Staphylococcus aureus and Coagulase-negative staphylococci present in between 50% and 60% of all PJIs. Fungi, though rare, can also cause PJI in 1%—2% of cases and can be challenging to manage. The management of this uncommon but complex condition is challenging due to the absence of a consistent algorithm. Diagnosis of fungal PJI is difficult as isolation of the organisms by traditional culture may take a long time, and some of the culture-negative PJI can be caused by fungal organisms. In recent years, the introduction of next-generation sequencing has provided opportunity for isolation of the infective organisms in culture-negative PJI cases. The suggested treatment is based on consensus and includes operative and non-operative measures. Two-stage revision surgery is the most reliable surgical option for chronic PJI caused by fungi. Pharmacological therapy with antifungal agents is required for a long period of time with antibiotics and included to cover superinfections with bacterial species. The aim of this review article is to report the most up-to-date information on the diagnosis and treatment of fungal PJI with the intention of providing clear guidance to clinicians, researchers and surgeons.

Treatment of periprosthetic knee infection and coexistent periprosthetic fracture:A case report and literature review

BACKGROUND Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI) and periprosthetic fracture(PPF) are among the most serious complications following total knee arthroplasty. Herein, we present one patient with these two complications with details on the characteristics, treatment strategy, and outcome.CASE SUMMARY A 69-year-old female patient who suffered from PJI and PPF following total knee arthroplasty was treated by a two-stage revision surgery. After thorough foreign material removal and debridement, we used a plate that was covered with antibiotic-loaded bone cement to link with a hand-made cement spacer to occupy the joint space and fix the fracture. Although the infection was cured, the fracture did not heal and caused bone defect due to the long interval between debridement and revision. In the revision surgery, a cemented stem and cortical allogenic splints were used to reconstruct the fracture and bone defect. At the final followup 27 mo after revision, the patient was satisfied with postoperative knee functions with satisfactory range of motion(104°) and Hospital for Special Surgery knee score(82 points). The radiographs showed no loosening of the prosthesis and that the bone grafts healed well with the femur.CONCLUSION Our two-stage revision surgery has proved to be successful and may be considered in other patients with PJI and PPF.

Combination of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen is useful for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection in patients with inflammatory diseases

Background:The screening of periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)in patients with inflammatory diseases before revision arthroplasty remains uncertain.Serum C-reactive protein(CRP),erythrocyte sedimentation rate(ESR),plasma fbrinogen(FIB),monocyte/lymphocyte ratio,and neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio(NLR)can help screening PJI,but their values in patients with infammatory diseases have not been determined.Methods:Patients with inflammatory diseases who underwent revision hip or knee arthroplasty at West China Hospital,Sichuan University,from January 2008 to September 2020 were divided into infected and non-infected groups based on the 2013 International Consensus Meeting criteria.Sensitivity and specificity of the tested biomarkers for diagnosing infection were determined based on receiver operating characteristic(ROC)curves,and optimal cutoffs were determined based on the Y ouden index.The diagnostic ability of these biomarkers was re-assessed after combining them with each other.Results:A total of 62 patients with inflammatory diseases were studied;of them 30 were infected.The area under the ROC curve was 0.813 for CRP,0.638 for ESR,0.795 for FIB,and 0.656 for NLR.The optimal predictive cutoff of CRP was 14.04 mg/L with a sensitivity of 86.2%and a specificity of 68.7%,while FIB had a sensitivity of 72.4%and a specificity of 81.2%with the optimal predictive cutoff of 4.04 g/L.The combinations of CRP with FIB produced a sensitivity of 86.2%and specificity of 78.1%.Conclusion:CRP with a slightly higher predictive cutoff and FIB are useful for screening PJI in patients with inflammatory diseases,and the combination of CRP and FIB may further improve the diagnostic values.

Utility of D-dimer in total joint arthroplasty

As the number of patients receiving total joint replacements continues to rise,considerable attention has been directed towards the early detection and prevention of postoperative complications.While D-dimer has long been studied as a diagnostic tool in venous thromboembolism(VTE),this assay has recently received considerable attention in the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection(PJI).D-dimer values are substantially elevated in the acute postoperative period after total joint arthroplasty,with levels often exceeding the standard institutional cutoff for VTE(500µg/L).The utility of D-dimer in detecting VTE after total joint replacement is currently limited,and more research to assess its value in the setting of contemporary prophylaxis protocols is warranted.Recent literature supports D-dimer as a good to excellent biomarker for the diagnosis of chronic PJI,especially when using serum sample technique.Providers should exercise caution when interpreting D-dimer levels in patients with inflammatory and hypercoagulability disorders,as the diagnostic value is decreased.The updated 2018 Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria,which includes D-dimer levels>860µg/L as a minor criterion,may be the most accurate for diagnosing chronic PJI to date.Larger prospective trials with transparent lab testing protocols are needed to establish best assay practices and optimal cutoff values for D-dimer in the diagnosis of PJI.This review summarizes the most current literature on the value of D-dimer in total joint arthroplasty and elucidates areas for future progress.

Use of topical vancomycin powder in total joint arthroplasty:Why the current literature is inconsistent?

Periprosthetic joint infection(PJI)is a rare but terrible complication in hip and knee arthroplasty,and the use of topical vancomycin powder(VP)has been investigated as a tool to potentially reduce its incidence.However,there remains no consensus on its efficacy.Therefore,the aim of this review is to provide an overview on the application of topical vancomycin in orthopaedic surgery focusing on the recent evidence and results in total joint arthroplasty.Several systematic reviews and meta-analyses on topical VP in hip and knee arthroplasty have been recently published reporting sometimes conflicting results.Apart from all being limited by the quality of the included studies(mostly level III and IV),confounding variables are often included potentially leading to biased conclusions.If taken into consideration the exclusive use of VP in isolation,the available data,although very limited,suggest that it does not reduce the infection rate in routine primary hip and knee arthroplasty.Therefore,we still cannot advise for a routinary application.A properly powered randomized-controlled trial would be necessary to clarify the role of VP in hip and knee arthroplasty.Based on the analysis of the current evidence,the use of topical VP appears to be safe when used locally in terms of systemic adverse reactions,hence,if proven to be effective,it could bring great benefits due to its low cost and accessibility.