Aim. Dissolvable antibiotic-loaded calcium sulphate beads have been utilized for management of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) and for aseptic revision arthroplasty. However, wound drainage and toxic reactive synovitis have been substantial problems in prior studies. Currently a commercially pure, physiologic product has been introduced that may reduce complications associated with this treatment modality. We aim to answer the question: does a commercially pure, physiologic version of antibiotic-loaded calcium sulfate beads reduce wound drainage and provide efficacious treatment for PJI and aseptic revision arthroplasty?. Method. Starting January 2010, 756 consecutive procedures were performed utilizing a set protocol of Vancomycin and Tobramycin antibiotics in commercially pure dissolvable antibiotic beads. There were 8 designated study groups:. Aseptic Revision TKA. N = 216. Aseptic Revision THA. N = 185. DECRA. *. TKA. N = 44. DECRA. *. THA. N = 16. 1. st. Stage Resection TKA. N = 103. 1. st. Stage Resection THA. N = 62. Reimplant TKA. N = 81. Reimplant THA. N = 49. *. DECRA = Debridement, modular Exchange, Component Retention, iv Antibiotics for acute PJI. Results. Wound drainage in the entire series was 4.2%. Wound drainage was generally seen in cases using higher bead volumes (≥30cc). The rate of heterotopic ossification was 1.6%. With bead volumes of ≥30cc, we did notice transient hypercalcemia in 12% of the study group (14% hips, 10% knees). The overall rate of infection failure was 2.5%. In the DECRA groups, reinfection failure rate was encouraging, measuring 9.1% in knees and 6.3% in hips. The non-DECRA group with the highest infection rate was Reimplant TKA (6.2%). Conclusions. We utilized a large series of commercially pure dissolvable antibiotic-loaded beads in a wide variety of clinical scenarios in patients with substantial comorbidities. Our rate of wound drainage, compared to prior studies utilizing gypsum products, was reasonably good. Additionally, our infection failure rates were encouraging. Over-stuffing knee joints with too many beads, in our clinical review, does affect wound drainage rates. By removing impurities from calcium sulfate, we do not see the substantial toxic synovial reaction compared to the traditional gypsum-washed products. We feel that commercially pure, physiologic antibiotic-loaded dissolvable beads are an acceptable delivery tool for local antibiotic delivery in aseptic and septic revision joint arthroplasty of the hip and knee. In our opinion, further study is warranted. We advocate future randomized studies to examine the potential of improving outcomes of PJI and aseptic revision arthroplasty

Aim

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devastating and costly complication of total joint arthroplasty (TJA). Use of extended oral antibiotic prophylaxis (EOAP) has become increasingly popular in the United States following a highly publicized study (Inabathula et al) from a single center demonstrating a significant protective effect (81% reduction) against PJI in ‘high-risk’ patients. However, these results have not been reproduced elsewhere and EOAP use directly conflicts with current antibiotic stewardship efforts. In order to study the role of EOAP in PJI prevention, consensus is needed for what defines ‘high-risk’ patients. The revision TJA (rTJA) population is an appropriate group to study due to having a higher incidence of PJI. The purpose of the current study was to rigorously determine which preoperative conditions described by Inabathula et al. (referred to as Inabathula criteria (IBC)) confer a higher rate of PJI in patients undergoing aseptic rTJA.

Aims. The outcomes of patients with unexpected positive cultures (UPCs) during revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remain unknown. The objectives of this study were to establish the prevalence and infection-free implant survival in UPCs during presumed aseptic single-stage revision THA and TKA at mid-term follow-up. Methods. This study included 297 patients undergoing presumed aseptic single-stage revision THA or TKA at a single treatment centre. All patients with at least three UPCs obtained during revision surgery were treated with minimum three months of oral antibiotics following revision surgery. The prevalence of UPCs and causative microorganisms, the recurrence of periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs), and the infection-free implant survival were established at minimum five years’ follow-up (5.1 to 12.3). Results. Of the 297 patients undergoing aseptic revisions, 37 (12.5%) had at least three UPCs obtained during surgery. The UPC cohort included 23 males (62.2%) and 14 females (37.8%), with a mean age of 71.2 years (47 to 82). Comorbidities included smoking (56.8%), hypertension (48.6%), diabetes mellitus (27.0%), and chronic renal impairment (13.5%). The causative microorganisms included Staphylococcus epidermidis (49.6%), Bacillus species (18.9%), Micrococcus species (16.2%), and Cutibacterium acnes (16.2%). None of the study patients with UPCs developed further PJIs or required further surgical intervention during follow-up. Conclusion. The prevalence of UPCs during presumed aseptic revision THA and TKA was 12.5%. The most common causative microorganisms were of low virulence, and included S. epidermidis, Bacillus species, Micrococcus species, and C. acnes. Microorganism-specific antibiotic treatment for minimum three months’ duration of UPCs in presumed aseptic revision arthroplasty was associated with excellent infection-free implant survival at mid-term follow-up. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2024;5(10):832–836

Aim of the study: Results of total hip replacement in consideration of quality of life and their correlation to clinical radiologic findings were examined.

Material and methods: 46 of 61 patients with aseptic loosing and total hip replacement were examined in average 4,3 years after surgery with the Harris Hip Score, Merle d’Aubigne Score, Postel Score, WOMAC-Score and SF-36 Health Survey Score. The study of radiographs was completed by the Scores of Brooker, Lee and Gruen. Allograft were used in 38 (83,6%) cases.

Results: The result of the Merle d’Aubigne Score and Postel Score in average account for 11,5 points. Harris Hip Score obtains 62,7 points. The comparison form patient and control group with the SF-36-Score shows unpropitious results particularly for physical functioning, roll limitation because of physical health problems and roll limitation because of physical emotional problems. The outcome for general mental health and vitality show better results for the patients as for the control. Evaluation of the physical and psychical scale applies to impairments of daily life depending on the disease. Patients with hip arthroplasty shows in comparison to patients with cancer or cardiac infarction worst results for the physical category, whereas the best results for the psychical category. Radiographs of 33 patients were completely evaluated. In eight cases (24,2%) there were loosening lines in femur shaft area. In 18 cases (54,55%) there were loosening lines in the area of the acetabular cup, in three cases (9%) a migration

Conclusion: After a total hip replacement the physical functions are limited. Primary hip arthroplasty for young patients should be indicated reserved in consideration of above mentioned results, even if psychological results surprised.

Aim. Culture-based conventional methods are still the gold standard to identify microorganisms in hip and knee PJIs diagnosis. However, such approach presents some limitations due to prior antimicrobial treatment or the presence of unusual and fastidious organisms. Molecular techniques, in particular specific real-time and broad-range polymerase chain reaction (PCR), are available for diagnostic use in a suspected PJI. However, limited data is available on their sensitivity and specificity. This study aimed to evaluate the performance of a rapid and simple Investigational Use Only (IUO) version of the BioFire® JI multiplex PCR panel when compared to traditional microbiological procedures. Method. Fifty-eight native synovial fluid samples were recovered from 49 patients (female n=26; male =23) who underwent one or multiple septic or aseptic revision arthroplasties of the hip (n=12) and knee (n=46). The JI panel methodology was used either on specimens freshly collected (n=6) or stored at −80°C in our Musculoskeletal Biobank (n=52). The JI panel performance was evaluated by comparison with culture reference methods. Patient's medical records were retrieved from our institutional arthroplasty registry as well as our prospectively maintained PJI infection database. Results. The JI panel identified additional microorganisms in 3/39 (7.7%) positive cases, and a different microorganism in 1/39 (2.6%) sample. Out of 9/58 (15.5%) culture negative samples, two (22%) were positively detected by the JI panel. In total 49/58 (84%) native synovial fluid specimens were positive by culture methods, versus 39/58 (81.2%) with the JI panel. Ten samples are currently under investigation for confirmatory results. Out of 39 positive detections with the JI panel, 35 (89.7%) were concordant with the identified microorganism (n=29 same species; n=6 same genus). The combined information from the JI panel results and clinical records revealed the existence of 6/58 (10.3%) PJIs’ cases which would have required a different antibiotic therapeutic approach. Conclusions. The work presented, provides additional value for the clinical use of the JI panel to the improvement of PJI management in terms of rapid and successful treatment decisions, patient outcome, and healthcare costs. This technique shows high sensitivity to detect PJIs specific microorganisms in both fresh as well frozen native synovial fluid samples, thus emphasizing its use for retrospective studies analysis

Aims

Periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) and fracture-related infections (FRIs) are associated with a significant risk of adverse events. However, there is a paucity of data on cardiac complications following revision surgery for PJI and FRI and how they impact overall mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the risk of perioperative myocardial injury (PMI) and mortality in this patient cohort.

Early and/or prolonged wound discharge after total knee arthroplasty often raises the question whether this is a sign of an early infection or if the prolonged discharge leads to a secondary deep wound infection from migrating skin bacteria. Confronted with the dilemma of what to do with early PWC our department implemented a new treatment protocol in 2002 to deal with early PWC after TKA in order to standardize decision-making. The aim of this study was to report our long-term results using this protocol on a prospective cohort primary TKA and revision TKA performed for other reasons than infection. This report focuses on the results of DAIR (debridement, antibiotics and implant retention) performed for early PPJI and/or early wound complications without clinical signs of infection. After implementing our treatment algorithm regarding postoperative wound complications in early 2002, we initiated a quality registration including every primary and non infected revision TKA performed. Between January 2002 and August 2012 1439 consecutive primary knee arthroplasties were performed at our institution. During the same period a total of 120 knee revisions for reasons not related to infection were performed. All patients undergoing DAIR within three months of the index procedure where divided into two groups: successful and unsuccessful. Successful DAIR didn't require any more surgery and the implant could be retained with a minimum follow up time of two years. Unsuccessful DAIR required at least one more surgical intervention. Treatment with DAIR was successful in 47 of 62 patients operated with primary and revision TKA as index operation. Those patients had no signs of infection and no antimicrobial therapy after a minimum of one year follow up time. The remaining 15 patients were in need of further surgery. Positive cultures could be obtained in 41 of 62 patients including those operated for aseptic revision arthroplasty. Staphylococcus aureus was by far the most common isolated organism with 24 isolations and the sole causative pathogen in 15 cases. When looking at all patients even including those with aseptic revision TKA we could see that the algorithm resulted in 57 of 62 patients (91,9%) ending up with a working knee prosthesis at the final follow up. In 47 (75,8%) cases prosthesis retention could be achieved with only a single DAIR procedure. We therefore conclude that the algorithm applied at our centre leads to satisfactory results

The February 2023 Knee Roundup³⁶⁰ looks at: Machine-learning models: are all complications predictable?; Positive cultures can be safely ignored in revision arthroplasty patients that do not meet the 2018 International Consensus Meeting Criteria; Spinal versus general anaesthesia in contemporary primary total knee arthroplasty; Preoperative pain and early arthritis are associated with poor outcomes in total knee arthroplasty; Risk factors for infection and revision surgery following patellar tendon and quadriceps tendon repairs; Supervised versus unsupervised rehabilitation following total knee arthroplasty; Kinematic alignment has similar outcomes to mechanical alignment: a systematic review and meta-analysis; Lifetime risk of revision after knee arthroplasty influenced by age, sex, and indication; Risk factors for knee osteoarthritis after traumatic knee injury.

Aims

Current diagnostic tools are not always able to effectively identify periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs). Recent studies suggest that circulating microRNAs (miRNAs) undergo changes under pathological conditions such as infection. The aim of this study was to analyze miRNA expression in hip arthroplasty PJI patients.

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the functional results and complications of the total femur prosthesis Endo-Model?. Material and methods:100 total femurs implanted between 3/89 and 9/97 during aseptic revision arthroplasty, all consecutive cases, were included in the study. 87% were female, 13% male. The mean age was 68 years, ranging from 40 to 94. The mean follow-up was 5 years, ranging from one to 12 years. 77% had suffered a complication following implantation of a total hip replacement, 4% of a total knee and 19% following a complication affecting the diaphysis, in most cases a fracture between total hip and total knee prosthesis. From all 100 patients 41% had sustained a periprosthetic fracture preoperatively. Results: As a total femur is a limb saving prosthesis the functional result of hip and knee was assessed according to the Enneking scheme in separate pre- and postoperative evaluations. Preoperative the mean score for hip function was fair, it improved to good postoperatively. For the knee the preoperative score was fair to good, postoperatively better than good. 65% had no complications, deep infection 12%, dislocations 6%, technical faults 3%, patella pain 2%, nerve palsy 1%, secondary wound healing 1%, haematoma 2%, perioperative mortality 3%, not located 5%. Conclusion: The total femur prosthesis Endo-Model? is a valuable limb-saving implant in desolate cases of revision arthroplasty. Meticulous preoperative planning is compulsory. The functional results are surprisingly good. The complication rate is acceptable. To reduce the infection rate we now introduced a perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis

Introduction and Aims: Functional results following revision total hip arthroplasty (THA) for infection may be inferior to those done for aseptic causes. This cross-sectional study compared the results of patients who had two-stage revision for infection using an articulating spacer device, with those of a control group who had revision for aseptic causes. Method: Patients admitted between December 1997 and December 2000 for two-stage revision of an infected hip replacement using the PROSTALAC articulating spacer were included. They were compared to patients who had revision of both components for aseptic causes over the same time period. Patients with periprosthetic fractures were excluded. Pre-operative function was assessed using the Charnley score and bone loss was determined from pre-operative radiographs using the Paprowsky femoral and acetabular classifications. At a minimum two years follow-up, quality of life (QOL) was assessed using the WOMAC, Oxford-12 and SF-12 questionnaires. Patient satisfaction and co-morbidity data were also collected. Results: There were 44 septic and 105 aseptic revision arthroplasties included in the study. There were no differences between the two groups with respect to co-morbidities, Charnley group, pre-operative pain, function or range of movement or loss of acetabular bone stock. The aseptic group had significantly worse femoral bone stock than the septic group (p=0.008). All infected patients were treated with the PROSTA-LAC system at the first stage, and 40 patients were reimplanted at the second stage procedure. In four cases, a Girdlestone procedure was performed for persistent infection, although two were re-implanted later. Re-operations in the septic group were required in six patients for: instability (three), fractured femoral component (one), failure of ingrowth (one), and for recurrence of infection (one). Eight aseptic patients had further revisions for: instability (four), failure of component fixation (three), and for periprosthetic fracture (one). Although the functional results for both groups were good, the results following revision for sepsis were significantly worse. The mean normalised WOMAC score for infected patients was 66.1, compared to 74.4 for aseptic patients (p=0.028) and the mean Oxford score following infection was 22.4 compared to 18.9 for controls (p=0.007). The satisfaction scores following septic revision were also significantly worse (p=0.02). Conclusion: Use of an articulated spacer in two-stage revision was successful in eradicating infection, allowing re-implantation in more than 90% of patients, and with good recovery of function. However, the functional results and satisfaction scores were significantly worse than those of a matched control group revised for aseptic causes

Aims

This study compared the cobalt and chromium serum ion concentration of patients treated with two different metal-on-metal (MoM) hinged total knee arthroplasty (TKA) systems, as well as a titanium nitride (TiN)-coated variant.

Aims

The purpose of this study was to evaluate unexpected positive cultures in total hip arthroplasty (THA) revisions for presumed aseptic loosening, to assess the prevalence of low-grade infection using two definition criteria, and to analyze its impact on implant survival after revision.

Aims

Calprotectin (CLP) is produced in neutrophils and monocytes and released into body fluids as a result of inflammation or infection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of blood and synovial CLP in the diagnosis of chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI).

Aims

To evaluate the histopathological examination of peri-implant tissue samples as a technique in the diagnosis of postoperative spinal implant infection (PSII).

Total knee arthroplasty is an established and successful operation. In up to 13% of patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty continue to complain of pain. Recently computerised tomography (CT) has been used to assess the rotational profile of both the tibial and femoral components in painful total knee arthroplasty. We reviewed 56 painful total knee replacements and compared these to 56 matched patients with pain free total knee replacements. Patients with infection, aseptic loosening, revision arthroplasties and gross coronal malalignment were excluded. Datum gathered from case notes and radiographs using a prospective orthopaedic database to identify patients. The age, sex, preoperative and postoperative Oxford scores, visual analogue scores and treatments recorded. The CT information recorded was limb alignment, tibial component rotation, femoral component rotation and combined rotation. The two cohorts of patients had similar demographics. The mean limb alignments were 1.7 degrees varus and 0.01 degrees valgus in the painful and control groups respectively. A significant difference in tibial component rotation was identified between the groups with 3.2 degrees of internal rotation in the painful group compared to 0.5 degrees of external rotation in the control group (p=0.001). A significant difference in femoral component rotation was identified between the groups with 3.8 degrees of internal rotation in the painful group compared to 1.1 degrees of external rotation in the control group (p=0.001). A significant difference in the combined component rotation was identified between the groups with 6.8 degrees of internal rotation in the painful group compared to 1.7 degrees of external rotation in the control group (p=0.001). We have identified significant internal rotation in a patient cohort with painful total knee arthroplasty when compared to a control group with internal rotation of the tibial component, femoral component and combined rotation. This is the largest comparison series currently in the literature

Aims

Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains a major clinical challenge. Neutrophil CD64 index, Fc-gamma receptor 1 (FcγR1), plays an important role in mediating inflammation of bacterial infections and therefore could be a valuable biomarker for PJI. The aim of this study is to compare the neutrophil CD64 index in synovial and blood diagnostic ability with the standard clinical tests for discrimination PJI and aseptic implant failure.

Aims

Vancouver type B periprosthetic femoral fractures (PFF) are challenging complications after total hip arthroplasty (THA), and some treatment controversies remain. The objectives of this study were: to evaluate the short-to-mid-term clinical outcomes after treatment of Vancouver type B PFF and to compare postoperative outcome in subgroups according to classifications and treatments; to report the clinical outcomes after conservative treatment; and to identify risk factors for postoperative complications in Vancouver type B PFF.

Objectives

We used the National Joint Registry for England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Isle of Man (NJR) to investigate the risk of revision due to prosthetic joint infection (PJI) for patients undergoing primary and revision hip arthroplasty, the changes in risk over time, and the overall burden created by PJI.

This prospective study evaluates the role of new laboratory markers in the diagnosis of deep implant infection in 78 patients (41 men and 37 women) with a revision total knee or hip replacement.

The mean age at the time of operation was 64.0 years (19 to 90). Intra-operative cultures showed that 21 patients had a septic and 57 an aseptic total joint replacement. The white blood cell count, the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and levels of C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, procalcitonin and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α were measured in blood samples before operation. The diagnostic cut-off values were determined by Received Operating Characteristic curve analysis.

C-reactive protein (> 3.2 md/dl) and interleukin-6 (> 12 pg/ml) have the highest sensitivity (0.95). Interleukin-6 is less specific than C-reactive protein (0.87 vs 0.96). Combining C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 identifies all patients with deep infection of the implant. Procalcitonin (> 0.3 ng/ml) and TNF-α (> 40 ng/ml) are very specific (0.98 vs 0.94) but have a low sensitivity (0.33 vs 0.43).

The combination of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 measurement provide excellent screening tests for infection of a deep implant. A highly specific marker such as procalcitonin and pre-operative aspiration of the joint might be useful in identifying patients with true positive C-reactive protein and/or interleukin-6 levels.