Research suggests abandon convention in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection

The synovial fluid is the viscous liquid that lubricates the joints and feeds the cartilage.

“This research indicates that we may need to reexamine how we diagnose PJI,” said Javad Parvizi, MD, director of Research at the Rothman Institute and Professor of Orthopedics at Jefferson Medical College.

The study retrospectively examined 2,067 cases of revision hip or knee arthroplasty between 2004 and 2010. Of these, 961 cases had a diagnosis of PJI based on institutional criteria. Preoperative WBC counts and PMN numbers were examined at and found to be only 58.8 percent sensitive for infection and 62.2 percent specific for WBC; and 57 percent sensitive and 71 percent specific at the determined threshold of 7,650 cells/ml.

The results will be shared at the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons (AAOS) annual meeting on Wednesday, February 8th at 11:24 am Pacific Time.

“Our study confirms the long held belief that serum white blood cell count and differential has minimal role in routine work-up of patients with suspected PJI,” said Parvizi, an author on this influential study.
Additional authors on the study include: Nader Toossi, MD; Bahar Adeli; and Ronald Huang, all with the Rothman Institute at Jefferson.

About Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals
Thomas Jefferson University Hospitals (TJUH) are dedicated to excellence in patient care, patient safety and the quality of the healthcare experience. Consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report among the nation's top hospitals, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, established in 1825, has over 900 licensed acute care beds with major programs in a wide range of clinical specialties. TJUH is one of the few hospitals in the U.S. that is both a Level 1 Trauma Center and a federally-designated regional spinal cord injury center. TJUH patient care facilities include Jefferson Hospital for Neuroscience, the region’s only dedicated hospital for neuroscience, Methodist Hospital in South Philadelphia, and additional patient care facilities throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. TJUH partners with its education affiliate, Thomas Jefferson University.