Two-stage revision arthroplasty for periprosthetic joint infections: What is the value of cultures and white cell count in synovial fluid and CRP in serum before second stage reimplantation?

摘要

Besides CRP in serum, white cell counts and cultures of synovial fluid are routinely used to detect periprosthetic joint infections. But the sensitivities of these parameters do vary from 12 to 100 %. In two stage revision arthroplasty before the second stage surgeons have to decide if reimplantation is justified. Therefore, we investigated the value of cultures and white cell count from the synovial fluid with a polymethyl methacrylate spacer in place and CRP in serum before reimplantation to detect persistent infection in a standardized setting.