Traumatic arthrotomy: A systematic review evaluating diagnostic strategies.

Injury

NYU Langone Health, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 301 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA. Electronic address:

Published: January 2025

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to systematically review available strategies for diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on October 8th, 2023 using Ovid Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Embase Classic. Studies were included in the review if they evaluated a diagnostic strategy for traumatic arthrotomy.

Results: There were 26 studies included after application of the exclusion criteria. 12 studies investigated traumatic arthrotomy of the knee, 8 of the elbow, 4 of the shoulder, 4 of the wrist, and 5 of the ankle. 23 studies implemented the saline load test as a diagnostic strategy, 7 considered CT scan, 1 study used x-ray, and 1 study used ultrasound. Of the studies that considered saline load tests, 8 of them also used methylene blue. CT scans were found to have 100% sensitivity when diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy of the knee. Saline load test was shown to have 60% to 100% sensitivity when diagnosing traumatic arthrotomies of the elbow. Saline load tests had sensitivities ranging from 75% to 100% when considering a shoulder traumatic arthrotomy. The saline load test was able to diagnose traumatic arthrotomies of the wrist, and ankle with sensitivities up to 100% and 99%, respectively.

Conclusions: When considering the infectious risks associated with undiagnosed traumatic arthrotomy, clinicians should seek modalities with the highest diagnostic performance. The saline load test has long been considered the gold standard for diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy, however, imaging modalities hold appeal as a less invasive and technically challenging procedure. Although diagnostic performance is joint-dependent, this review indicates that the saline load test continues to be the most reliable method for diagnosing most traumatic arthrotomies other than the knee.

Level Of Evidence: III.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.injury.2025.112168DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

saline load
28
traumatic arthrotomy
24
diagnosing traumatic
20
load test
20
traumatic arthrotomies
12
traumatic
11
studies included
8
diagnostic strategy
8
arthrotomy knee
8
wrist ankle
8

Similar Publications

Traumatic arthrotomy: A systematic review evaluating diagnostic strategies.

Injury

January 2025

NYU Langone Health, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, 301 E 17th St, New York, NY 10003, USA. Electronic address:

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to systematically review available strategies for diagnosing traumatic arthrotomy.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was conducted on October 8th, 2023 using Ovid Medline, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, and Embase Classic. Studies were included in the review if they evaluated a diagnostic strategy for traumatic arthrotomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Respiratory infection by influenza A virus (IAV) is known to cause systemic inflammation, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment. We previously found that experimental infection with IAV affected oligodendrocyte homeostasis, which was associated with altered expression of genes involved in myelin maintenance as well as the lipidome. In this study, we sought to determine if clemastine, an antihistamine with myelin promoting properties, could reverse the effects of IAV on oligodendrocyte (OL) specific genes, as well as mitigate infection-induced cognitive impairment.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: The efficacy of bone marrow aspirate concentrate (BMAC) in promoting bone-tendon interface (BTI) healing without any carriers remains a subject of debate.

Purpose: To evaluate BMAC effects with different carriers on tendon regeneration in a rabbit model of chronic rotator cuff tear.

Study Design: Controlled laboratory study.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Acute rhinosinusitis (ARS) in children may be accompanied by acute otitis media (AOM) which is often associated with bacterial co-infections. These conditions are among the primary reasons that children visit hospitals and require antibiotic treatment. This study evaluated the efficacy of the nasal-spraying probiotics (LiveSpo Navax containing 5 billion Bacillus subtilis and B.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Owing to the risk for septic arthritis, traumatic arthrotomies are an urgent surgical problem for the treating orthopaedic surgeon. Traditionally, diagnosis is with the saline load test (SLT), although in the awake patient is an invasive and potentially painful procedure. While computerized tomography (CT) has been shown to be a reliable diagnostic tool for traumatic arthrotomies of other joints, its role has only recently been investigated in the setting of ankle arthrotomy.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!