Better diagnostic value of tissue cultures obtained during mini-open and arthroscopic procedures compared with sterile punctures to identify periprosthetic shoulder infections: a retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to determine the sensitivity and specificity of sterile shoulder needle aspiration and cultures obtained during arthroscopic and mini-open procedures for detecting periprosthetic shoulder infections using tissue cultures from revision surgery as the gold standard. METHODS: All shoulder arthroplasty patients who underwent a synovial fluid puncture between August 2012 and February 2018 were selected. In addition, arthroplasty patients with cultures obtained during arthroscopic or mini-open procedures between May 2014 and May 2021 were selected. When sterile punctures or biopsy procedures were followed by revision surgery with collection of 6 tissue cultures, patients were included in the study and efficacy measures were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-six patients were included in this study (with 57 punctures) and underwent analysis of puncture results after exclusions. Positive puncture results were found for Cutibacterium acnes, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus hominis, Actinomyces neuii, and Proteus mirabilis. These puncture cultures showed a sensitivity of 20.0% and specificity of 90.6%. From May 2014 to May 2021, 51 biopsy procedures were performed (15 arthroscopic and 36 mini-open); 37 biopsy procedures were included in this study (12 arthroscopic and 25 mini-open) for analysis after exclusions. Positive culture results were found for C acnes, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus saccharolyticus, and Streptococcus species. Arthroscopic biopsy cultures showed a sensitivity of 60.0% and specificity of 85.7%. For the mini-open biopsy cultures, the sensitivity and specificity were 66.7% and 85.7%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Sterile punctures for culture have a low sensitivity and a high specificity for diagnosing periprosthetic shoulder infections. Tissue cultures obtained during mini-open and arthroscopic procedures have a higher sensitivity for detecting periprosthetic shoulder infections.

Radiocapitellar prosthetic arthroplasty: short-term to midterm results of 19 elbows.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have discussed the short-term results of radiocapitellar (RC) prosthetic arthroplasty (PA). In this study, we assessed the short-term to midterm functional and radiographic results of elbows after RC PA. Our secondary aim was to assess the survival of the RC PA. METHODS: We included 19 elbows in 18 patients with a mean follow-up of 35 months (range, 12-88 months). Patients were examined for instability and range of motion and were assessed using Mayo Elbow Performance Index and Oxford Elbow Score at any subsequent visits. RC PA was the primary treatment in 16 elbows, and 3 were revision radial head arthroplasty with concomitant capitellar resurfacing. RESULTS: Range of motion, pain, and functional scores improved significantly from the preoperative to the final follow-up visit. Categoric grouping of the final Mayo Elbow Performance Index outcome scores showed 9 excellent, 5 good, 3 fair, 0 poor, and 2 missing data. However, stability of the elbow remained unchanged. There was no pain in 11 patients, mild pain in 5, and moderate pain in 3. Radiographic assessment showed no significant progress in ulnohumeral arthritis, although 3 elbows showed osteoarthritis progression to a higher grade. There were no major complications, including infection, revision, disassembly of the components, or conversion to total elbow arthroplasty. Survival of the RC PA was 100%. CONCLUSION: Elbow arthritis seems to become stationary after RC PA. Symptomatic RC osteoarthritis would probably benefit from RC PA regardless of the etiology.

Predicting 30-day mortality following hip fracture surgery: evaluation of six risk prediction models.

INTRODUCTION: While predictors for mortality after hip fracture surgery have been widely studied, research regarding risk prediction models is limited. Risk models can predict mortality for individual patients, provide insight in prognosis, and be valuable in surgical audits. Existing models have not been validated independently. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the performance of existing risk models for predicting 30-day mortality following hip fracture surgery. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, all consecutive hip fracture patients admitted between 2004 and 2010 were included. Predicted mortality was calculated for individual patients and compared to the observed outcome. The discriminative performance of the models was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Calibration was analysed with the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test. RESULTS: A literature search yielded six risk prediction models: the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), Orthopaedic Physiologic and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and Morbidity (O-POSSUM), Estimation of Physiologic Ability and Surgical Stress (E-PASS), a risk model by Jiang et al., the Nottingham Hip Fracture Score (NHFS), and a model by Holt et al. The latter three models were specifically designed for the hip fracture population. All models except the O-POSSUM achieved an AUC greater than 0.70, demonstrating acceptable discriminative power. The score by Jiang et al. performed best with an AUC of 0.78, this was however not significantly different from the NHFS (0.77) or the model by Holt et al. (0.76). When applying the Hosmer-Lemeshow goodness-of-fit test, the model by Holt et al., the NHFS and the model by Jiang et al. showed a significant lack of fit (p<0.05). The CCI, O-POSSUM and E-PASS did not demonstrate lack of calibration. DISCUSSION: None of the existing models yielded excellent discrimination (AUC>0.80). The best discrimination was demonstrated by the models designed for the hip fracture population, however, they had a lack of fit. The NHFS shows most promising results, with reasonable discrimination and extensive validation in earlier studies. Additional research is needed to examine recalibration and to determine the best risk model for predicting early mortality following hip fracture surgery.

The long-term prognosis of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease: a historical prospective study with a median follow-up of forty one years.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is predicting the clinical and radiological long-term outcome and identifying prognostic factors of Legg-Calvé-Perthes disease (LCPD) in Catterall 2 and 3 hips. METHODS: Sixty hips (59 patients) were diagnosed with LCPD between 1959 to 1974 and were followed prospectively. Forty-two of these 60 hips were classified as Catterall 2 or 3. In 2002, 33 hips (32 patients) with Catterall type 2 or 3 were evaluated clinically and radiographically. In 2010, 27 hips (26 patients) were re-evaluated. RESULTS: In 2002, 15 hips had Catterall 2 type LCPD and 18 hips Catterall 3. Twelve of the 33 hips (36%) had signs of osteoarthritis. In 2010, 14 hips were classified as Catterall 2 and 13 hips as Catterall 3. Catterall 2 hips had a significantly better Harris Hip Score (HHS) (p = 0.001). There were 15 hips (55%) with signs of osteoarthritis. CONCLUSION: The long-term prognosis of LCPD Catterall type 2 and 3 is relatively benign. However, more than 50% of the patients will develop signs of osteoarthritis between the 4th and 5th decades. At the latest follow-up a strong increase in the number of cases with osteoarthritis was seen. Sphericity of the femoral head is an important predicting factor in the development of osteoarthritis.

Retrospective radiographic evaluation of treatment results of developmental dysplasia of the hip in walking-age children.

UNLABELLED: We evaluated treatment results of 22 children (32 hips) with idiopathic hip dislocation after walking age in two Dutch academic hospitals. The Tönnis classification was used preoperatively. Outcome was measured using the Severin and Kalamchi classification. The mean age at treatment was 24 months and the mean follow-up was 6.8 years. In 24 hips (73%), a perfect outcome was found (Kalamchi score≤1 and Severin score of 1). A fair or a poor outcome according to Severin (≥3) was found in five hips (15%). Treatment of a hip dislocation beyond 18 months of age usually results in adequate hip development with limited avascular necrosis. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III.