Application of MRI WARP sequence in periprosthetic joint infection / 中华创伤骨科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore whether MRI WARP sequence can provide clearer musculoskeletal images to guide the operation for patients with periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) by comparing MRI WARP sequence images with conventional sequence images.Methods:The data were analyzed retrospectively of 23 PJI patients who had been diagnosed and treated at Department of Orthopedics, The First Affiliated Hospital to Fujian Medical University from January 2020 to February 2021. They were 13 females and 10 males, with an average age of 62.8 years (from 32 to 88 years). According to the MRI sequences, they were divided into a WARP group ( n=14) subjected to MRI scanning by WARP sequence and a conventional group ( n=9) subjected to MRI scanning by conventional sequence. The gender, age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reaction protein (CRP) were recorded for both groups. The signal-to-noise ratios were compared between the 2 sequences and 2 experts evaluated the clarity and surgical guidance of the images. Results:There was no significant difference in gender, age, CRP or ESR between the 2 groups, showing comparability ( P>0.05). The 2 experts showed consistency in evaluation of image sharpness and surgical guidance ( P<0.05). The WARP group was significantly better than the conventional group in image sharpness score [2.25(2.0, 2.6) versus 1.00 (0.5, 1.0)], surgical guidance score [2.00(1.5, 2.5) versus 0.50(0, 0.8)], and signal-to-noise ratio [47.28 (32.8, 74.3) versus 21.67(13.5, 31.4)] ( P<0.05). Conclusion:MRI WARP sequence can provide clearer musculoskeletal images than conventional MRI sequence to better guide the operation for PJI patients.