Background: The purpose of this study was to test the accuracy of a single synovial fluid biomarker, α-defensin, in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection in revision total hip and revision total knee arthroplasty.
Methods: A total of 102 patients comprising 116 revision total hip arthroplasty and revision total knee arthroplasty procedures performed between May 2013 and March 2014 were prospectively evaluated. Cases were categorized as infected or notinfected using Musculoskeletal Infection Society criteria. Synovial fluid was obtained and tested for α-defensin using a commercially available kit (Synovasure [CD Diagnostics, Baltimore, Maryland]).
Results: For first-stage and single-stage revisions, the α-defensin test had a sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI], 86%-100%) and a specificity of 98% (95% CI, 90%-100%) with a positive predictive value of 96% (95% CI, 80%-99%) and negative predictive value of 100% (95% CI, 93%-100%).
Conclusion: A positive α-defensin test result was significantly more sensitive and specific for predicting infection than current diagnostic testing and should be considered when managing periprosthetic joint infection.
Level Of Evidence: Level III, Study of Diagnostic Test.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.arth.2015.09.035 | DOI Listing |
Neurosurgery
January 2025
Division of Neurosurgery, Changi General Hospital, Singapore.
Background And Objective: The global average life expectancy has been increasing steadily as the quality of healthcare continues to improve. However, there is a paucity of data looking at surgical fixation of thoracolumbar spine fractures in patients ≥80 years (super-elderly). Aim of this study is to look at whether there is higher rate of complications from surgical fixation of thoracolumbar fractures in this group of patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKnee
December 2024
Orthopedic Surgery and Traumatology, Hospital Clínic de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
Distal femoral replacement (DFR) with megaprostheses is a salvage revision total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) procedure indicated in cases with massive bone defects in the distal femur. As long as these implants achieve fixation only in the diaphysis, the high aseptic loosening rate reported in some series is probably related to a lack of rotational stability. Two patients with extensive distal femoral bone defects with preservation of the metaphyseal-diaphyseal junction underwent rTKA.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Public Health
January 2025
Orcasitas Health Care Center, Madrid, Spain.
Introduction: Functional dependence on the performance of basic activities of daily living (ADLs) is associated with increased mortality. In this study, the Barthel index and its activities discriminate long-term mortality risk, and whether changes in this index are necessary to adapt it to detect mortality risk is examined.
Methods: Longitudinal study, carried out at the Orcasitas Health Center, Madrid (Spain), on the functional dependent population (Barthel ≤ 60).
Neurol Clin Pract
April 2025
Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA.
Background And Objectives: Telemedicine has become a mainstay of ALS clinical care, but there is currently no standardized approach for assessing and tracking changes to the neurologic examination in this format. The goal of this study was to create a standardized telemedicine-based motor examination scale to objectively and reliably track ALS progression and use Rasch methodology to validate the scale and improve its psychometric properties.
Methods: A draft telemedicine examination scale with 25 items assessing movement in the bulbar muscles, neck, trunk, and extremities was created by an ALS expert panel, incorporating input from patient advisors.
Open Forum Infect Dis
January 2025
Italian College of General Practitioners and Primary Care, Florence, Italy.
Background: Risk of herpes zoster (HZ) infection increases with age and immunosuppression. We estimated the impact of HZ and post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) on direct costs and health care resource utilization (HCRU) in patients ≥50 years, including those with comorbidities, as limited information exists in Italy.
Methods: This retrospective analysis used reimbursement data from local health authorities in Italy (January 2009-June 2022).
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