Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a devasting complication after total hip arthroplasty. Joint aspiration and preoperative biopsy can be helpful diagnostics for PJI. The aim of this study is to evaluate the diagnostic value of preoperative biopsies after inconclusive or dry tap aspiration of the hip in patients undergoing revision hip arthroplasty. Secondarily we will evaluate the diagnostic value of synovial fluid aspiration cultures and peroperative tissue cultures for diagnosing or ruling out PJI. Patients who underwent diagnostic aspiration and subsequent preoperative biopsy and/or revision surgery between January 2015 and January 2024 were included in the study. Synovial fluid aspirations and tissue samples obtained from biopsy and revision surgery were interpreted using the European Bone and Joint Infection Society criteria for PJI and in close consultation with the microbiologist.Aim
Methods
Prosthetic joint infections (PJI) are a common reason for revisions in patients that underwent total arthroplasty of the hip (THA) or knee (TKA). Extensive antibiotic treatment follows while a clear understanding of target site concentrations is lacking. The aim is to investigate the target site concentrations, like bone and synovial tissue concentrations, which consequently may lead to an optimisation of the dosing regiments of cefuroxime of PJI patients suffering from pain and immobility. Dosing optimisation may lead to a reduced risk of (re-)infection and adverse effects like renal-insufficiency and therefore lower health-care costs. Patients (n=26) with PJI of hip or knee undergoing a one- or two-stage revision treated with cefuroxime were included as part of the ASTERICS study. During implant removal two samples were collected 15-30 and 60-120 minutes after IV infusion of plasma, bone tissue and synovial tissue and one synovial fluid sample. Samples were analysed using a UltraPerformance Convergence Chromotography – quadruple mass spectrometry system (UPC2-MS/MS). Bone tissue and synovial tissue were pulverized before analysis acquiring for bone tissue a homogenate of cortical and cancellous bone. Using nonlinear mixed effect modelling (NONMEM) a base model was developed to analyse the bone to plasma ratio of cefuroxime in osteomyelitis patients.Aim
Method
Rifampicin and fluoroquinolone based therapy is generally considered as first-choice targeted oral antimicrobial therapy for staphylococcal prosthetic joint infections (PJI) treated with debridement, antibiotics and implant retention (DAIR). Alternative equally effective antimicrobial strategies are urgently needed due to toxicity and drug-drug interactions that frequently occur with this strategy. Data from recent clinical studies suggests equipoise for other antimicrobial treatment regimens. The objective of the The RiCOTTA-trial is a multicenter, non-inferiority, open-label, randomized controlled trial evaluating clindamycin versus rifampicin/fluoroquinolone combination therapy in the oral treatment phase in patients with staphylococcal PJI managed with DAIR. The trial is performed in 16 hospitals in the Netherlands. Eligible patients are adults with staphylococcal knee or hip PJI managed by DAIR. Patients are included one to six days before antibiotic treatment is switched from intravenous to oral therapy. Patients with a contraindication for rifampicin, with a megaprosthesis or who receive intravenous antibiotics for more than three weeks after initial debridement are excluded. Primary outcome is treatment success one year after finishing antimicrobial treatment. Success is defined as the absence of: i. Infection related re-surgery, ii. New episode of antibiotic treatment for infection of the index joint after the initial treatment phase of 12 weeks, iii. Ongoing use of antibiotics for the index joint at the end of follow-up, iv. Death. The estimated treatment success of rifampicin combination therapy is 85% and the monotherapy strategy is considered not inferior when the difference in treatment success will be less than 10%. Enrolment of 158 patients per group (316 in total) is needed to confirm non-inferiority of monotherapy with a power of 80%. The trial is currently open for enrolment. The study is approved by the Medical Ethics Committee Leiden, the Hague, Delft, the Netherlands and registered under EU trial number 2022-501620-26-00 in Clinical Trial Information System.Aim
Method
Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a serious complication after joint arthroplasty. Diagnosing PJI can be challenging as preoperative screening and conventional cultures may be inconclusive. Sonication fluid culturing stands out as a valuable adjunct technique to improve microbiological PJI diagnosis. This study aims to determine the clinical relevance of routinely using sonication for all septic and aseptic revisions. All patients who underwent (partial) hip or knee revision arthroplasty for all causes between 2012 and 2021 at our institution were retrospectively reviewed. Based on the European Bone and Joint Society PJI criteria, we categorized them into three groups: infection confirmed, infection likely, and infection unlikely. We analyzed the clinical, laboratory, and radiological screening that could confirm or refute suspicion of PJI. We analyzed microbiology cultures and the most frequently detected microorganisms. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for synovial fluid cultures (preoperative), tissue cultures, and sonication fluid cultures. We determined the clinical relevance of sonication as the percentage of patients for whom sonication confirmed (microbiological) PJI diagnosis.Aim
Method
The current antibiotic treatment of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is optimized by measuring concentrations in plasma. However, it remains unclear whether effective concentrations of the antibiotics are reached at the site of PJI. Nonetheless, adequate target site concentrations are important to achieve effective eradication of the micro-organism. In order to determine the efficacy of cefuroxime and flucloxacillin in synovial fluid, synovial tissue and bone tissue in relation to the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the pathogen causing the PJI, we perform a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PK/PD) study. Therefore, we aimed to develop validated analytical methods for analysis of cefuroxime and flucloxacillin in synovial fluid, synovial tissue and bone tissue. Blank samples of synovial fluid, synovial tissue and bone tissue were obtained by orthopedic surgeons during surgery. For validation the samples of each matrix were spiked with both cefuroxime and flucloxacillin. Synovial tissue and bone tissue was pulverized with a mikro-dismembrator. Samples were kept frozen at −20°C until analysis. After a sample preparation quantification of cefuroxime and flucloxacillin in each matrix was performed on the ultra-performance convergence chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPC2-MS/MS). Stable-isotope-labeled meropenem-d6 served as internal standard. The linearity, limits of quantification, accuracy and precision and carry-over were determined for all methods separately. The methods were validated according to the European Medicine Agency (EMA) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines on bioanalytical method validation.Aim
Method
Aim was to compare revision rates when using single versus dual antibiotic loaded cement (ABLC) in hip fracture arthroplasty and aseptic revision hip or knee arthroplasty using data from the Dutch national joint registry (LROI). All primary cemented (hemi-)arthroplasties for acute hip fractures and cemented aseptic hip or knee revision arthroplasties, were incorporated in 3 datasets. All registered implants between 2007 and 2018 were included (minimum 2 years follow-up). Primary end-point was subsequent revision rates for infection and for any reason in the single and dual ABLC groups. Cumulative crude incidence of revision was calculated using competing risk analysis.Aim
Methods
The duration and extent of postoperative wound leakage after joint arthroplasty in patients with or without a complicated course, like a prosthetic joint infection (PJI), is currently unknown. Adequate differentiation between normal postoperative wound leakage and wound leakage due to a postoperative PJI is important and prevents unnecessary surgical procedures. We investigated the association between postoperative wound leakage and development of PJI in patients who used a previously developed mobile wound care app. A multicenter, prospective cohort study with patients aged 18 years or older after primary implantation or revision of a total joint arthroplasty. During 30 post-operative days after arthroplasty, patients recorded their wound status in the woundcare app. An algorithm calculated a daily score from imputed data. If the daily score exceeded a predefined threshold, the patients received an alert that advised them to contact their physician.Background
Methods
Debridement Antibiotics and Implant Retention(DAIR) is a procedure to treat a periprosthetic joint infection(PJI) after Total Hip Arthroplasty(THA) or Total Knee Arthroplasty(TKA). The timing between the primary procedure and the DAIR is likely a determinant for its successful outcome. There are few retrospective studies correlating timing of a DAIR with success (1,2). However, the optimal timing of a DAIR and the chance of success still remains unclear. We aimed to assess the risk of re-revision within one year after a DAIR procedure and to evaluate the timing of the DAIR in primary THA and TKA. An estimation of the chance of a successful DAIR will help clinicians and patients in their decision-making process in case of an acute postoperative PJI. We used data from the Dutch Arthroplasty Register(LROI) and selected all primary THA and TKA in the period 2007–2016 who underwent a DAIR within 12 weeks after primary procedure. A DAIR was defined as a revision for infection in which only modular parts were exchanged. A DAIR was successful if not followed by a re-revision within 1 year after DAIR. The analyses were separated for THA and TKA procedures.Aim
Method
Radiographs of the scaphoid after injury are difficult to interpret, and bone scintigraphy is widely used to increase the accuracy of diagnosis, though many fractures suspected on scintigraphy cannot be confirmed radiologically. We have reviewed the clinical consequences, after one year, of managing suspected scaphoid fractures according to the bone-scan results. We studied 160 patients, 35 of whom had initially positive radiographs and were treated in a cast for 12 weeks. The other 125 had bone scintigraphy and were managed according to the result. After a minimum of one year 119 patients were reviewed. Scintigraphically suspected scaphoid fracture could not be confirmed radiologically in 25%. There were no cases of nonunion. The long period of immobilisation in patients with positive radiographs or positive bone scans did not influence the frequency or severity of late symptoms compared with those with a normal bone scan.
