Preoperative serum albumin as a predictor of complications following total hip replacement in patients with rheumatoid arthritis / Albúmina sérica preoperatoria como un predictor de complicaciones posterior al reemplazo total de cadera en pacientes con artritis reumatoide

Abstract: Background: Rheumatoid arthritis is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by polyarthritis with progressive articular wear, immunologic abnormalities and increasing physical limitation. Surgical correction with hip replacement comes as a successful solution for patients with advanced articular destruction. Following intervention, surgical site infection (SSI), venous thromboembolism, sepsis, renal and major cardiovascular complications are among the most cited in the literature. No consensus exists as to the detection of preoperative hypoalbuminemia in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Methods: This study retrospectively evaluated the preoperative serum albumin of 75 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and analyzed its relevance in terms of appearance of postoperative complications with a six-month follow-up. Complications in the group of patients with low serum albumin and the group of patients with normal serum albumin were reviewed to identify the effect of each variable. Odds ratio for each variable was calculated (hospital readmission, surgical site infection, renal and cardiac complications, non-infectious wound complications and the presence of residual hip pain), as well as p-value and confidence intervals. Results: Surgical site infection showed a statistically significant relation with low serum albumin (OR: 6.125, p = 0.018) as did non-infectious wound complications (OR: 3.714, p = 0.026) and residual hip pain (OR: 3.149, p = 0.022). Conclusion: Preoperative low serum albumin has a direct relation with the rate of postoperative complications including SSI, non-infectious wound complications (seroma formation, wound dehiscence) and residual hip pain. Preoperative serum albumin is a reliable marker of nutrition, which may establish preventive strategies to reduce postoperative complications in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Resumen: Introducción: La artritis reumatoide es una enfermedad inflamatoria crónica con desgaste articular progresivo, anomalías inmunológicas y aumento de la limitación física. La corrección quirúrgica con el reemplazo de la cadera es una solución a la destrucción articular avanzada. Después de la intervención, la infección del sitio quirúrgico (SSI), el tromboembolismo venoso, la sepsis y las complicaciones cardiovasculares o renales se encuentran entre las más citadas en la literatura. No existe consenso en cuanto a la detección de hipoalbuminemia preoperatoria en pacientes con artritis reumatoide. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo evaluando la albúmina de suero preoperatoria de 75 pacientes con artritis reumatoide, se analizó su importancia en términos de complicaciones postoperatorias en los primeros seis meses de seguimiento. Las complicaciones en el grupo de pacientes con albúmina de suero baja y el grupo de pacientes con albúmina de suero normal fueron repasadas para identificar el efecto de cada variable. Se calculó el odds ratio para cada variable (reingreso hospitalario, infección del sitio quirúrgico, complicaciones renales y cardíacas, complicaciones no infecciosas de la herida y presencia de dolor de cadera residual), así como el valor p y los intervalos de confianza. Resultados: La infección del sitio quirúrgico demostró una relación estadística significativa con la albúmina de suero baja (o: 6.125, p = 0.018) al igual que complicaciones no infecciosas de la herida (o: 3.714, p = 0.026) y dolor residual de la cadera (o: 3.149, p = 0.022). Conclusión: La albúmina sérica baja preoperatoria tiene una relación directa con la tasa de complicaciones postoperatorias: infección, formación de seromas, dehiscencia de la herida y dolor residual.

Normal Range of the Inflammation Related Laboratory Findings and Predictors of the Postoperative Infection in Spinal Posterior Fusion Surgery

BACKGROUND: Inflammation related hematological parameters vary greatly depending on patients. It is not well known how much increase of which parameter warrants suspicion of postoperative infection. This study proposes to identify the normal range and the predictive factors for postoperative infection by conducting a time series analysis of the hematological parameters of patients after the spinal posterior fusion. METHODS: A retrospective study was done with 608 patients who underwent spinal posterior fusion with pedicle screw fixation. Laboratory assessment including the leucocyte, neutrophil, C-reactive protein (CRP), and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) of patients for 2 weeks after operation. The patients were divided into the one-level fusion group (group I), the two-level fusion group (group II), the three or multi-level fusion or reoperation group (group III), and the postoperative infection group (group IV). Blood was drawn before breakfast prior to the operation, and then 2-3 days, 4-7 days, 8-11 days, and 12-14 days after the operation. The leucocyte count, neutrophil count, CRP, and ESR were measured. RESULTS: From 4-7 days after the operation, the CRP and neutrophil count of group IV were significantly higher than those of group I and II, and from 8-11 days after operation, the CRP and neutrophil counts were significantly higher than those of all groups. Twelve to fourteen days after the operation, the neutrophil count of group IV was significantly higher than that of group I and II, while the neutrophil count of group III was also higher than that of group I. The lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) of the CRP and neutrophil count group IV was greater than the upper limit of the 95% CI of group I and II. The ESR of group IV was significantly higher than that of group I and III. CONCLUSIONS: If the postoperative CRP and neutrophil counts are high, or if the CRP begins to rise again 8 days after the operation, the likelihood of infection increases, but caution must be exercised in interpreting the results. If the hematological parameters are higher than the lower limit of the 95% CI of the postoperative infection group, infection must be strongly suspected.

C-reactive protein (CRP) as an indicator of sepsis in orthopaedic trauma.

In the present study serial estimations of changes in plasma C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total leucocyte count (TLC) and temperature were recorded in 100 patients. Nature and extent of tissue trauma varied from fresh soft tissue or bony injuries to elective orthopaedic procedures, besides acute orthopaedic infections. All the parameters showed a rise from day 1-3 from the normal levels, though the rise in temperature was minimal. However, from third day onwards, CRP level showed a sharp decline in all cases without any septic complication or infective patients who improved with treatment. Decline of ESR levels on the other hand was variable. Similarly, decline of TLC and temperature was also not consistent and sharp. Persistent rise of CRP level beyond third day or any subsequent rise in CRP level was consistent with a septic complication in the patient. CRP was therefore observed to be a sensitive and dependable indicator of orthopaedic sepsis even orthopaedic trauma.