Abstract
Aim
This study aims to define the normal postoperative presepsin kinetics in patients undergoing primary cementless total hip replacement (THR).
Methods
Patients undergoing primary cementless THR at our Institute were recruited. At enrollment anthropometric data, smocking status, osteoarthritis stage according to Kellgren and
Lawrence, Harris Hip Score (HHS), drugs assumption and comorbidities were recorded. All the patients underwent serial blood tests, including complete blood count, presepsin (PS) and C-Reactive Protein (CRP) 24 hours before arthroplasty and at 24-, 48-, 72- and 96-hours postoperatively and at 3-, 6- and 12-months follow-up.
Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS v25.0 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). The Wilcoxon and Kruskal-Wallis tests followed by the Dunn multiple comparison post hoc tests were carried out. Correlations between PS, CRP and TOT were assessed using the Spearman rank correlation coefficient. P values below 0.05 were considered significant.
Results and conclusion
A total of 96 patients were recruited (51 female; 45 male; mean age= 65.74±5.58) were recruited. The mean PS values were: 137.54 pg/ml at baseline, 192.08 pg/ml at 24-hours post-op; 254.85 pg/ml at 48-hours post-op; 259 pg/ml at 72-hours post-op; 248.6 pg/ml at 96-hour post-op; 140.52 pg/ml at 3-months follow-up; 135.55 pg/ml at 6-months follow-up and 130.11 pg/ml at 12-months follow-up.
In two patients (2.08%) a soft-tissue infection was observed; in these patients higher levels (>350pg/mL) were recorded at 3-months follow-up.
The lack of a presepsin decrease at 96 hours post-operatively should be a predictive factor of infection.