Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39969590›Full record

ArticleInternational orthopaedics2025

Advantages in orthopaedic implant infection diagnostics by additional analysis of explants.

Arnold J Suda, Thomas Miethke, Nadine Landua, Udo Obertacke

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in International orthopaedics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Arnold J SudaDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany. arnold.suda@medma.uni-heidelberg.de.
Thomas MiethkeInstitute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
Nadine LanduaDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.
Udo ObertackeDepartment of Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery, University Medical Centre Mannheim, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3, 68167, Mannheim, Germany.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeImplant-associated infections are the most challenging complication in orthopaedics and trauma surgery as they often lead to long courses of illness and are a financial burden for the healthcare system. There is a need for fast, simple, and cheap identification of pathogens but the ideal detection method was not found yet. The work aims to test whether the detection of pathogens culturing the removed implant is more successful than from simultaneously taken tissue samples or punction fluid.

methodsImplants were removed due to infection, irritation, or loosening. Tissue samples and joint fluids were processed for bacterial growth in sterile conditions. Samples were incubated and checked for growth. Bacterial identification and antibiotic sensitivity testing were performed. Data were anonymized, and statistical analysis was done using Excel and SAS, employing tests like Shapiro-Wilk, Mann-Whitney-U, and Kruskal-Wallis. Ethical approval was obtained for this study.

resultsBetween February 2018 and April 2019, a total of 163 patients (175 cases) underwent orthopaedic implant removal for various reasons. 30 cases were not usable or analyzable due to missing or damaged reference material, so 145 cases could be evaluated due to study protocol. The range of detected bacteria was as expected and included low-virulent bacteria such as Micrococcus luteus and Corynebacteria. Pathogen detection by culture of the the explant´s was more sensitive (84.83%) than pathogen detection from tissue samples and punction fluid (64.14%, p<0.0001). Comorbidities did not play any role in the quality of detection but prior antibiotic treatment did influence the results of tissue diagnostics.

conclusionThis study showed with a higher frequency of bacterial detection of orthopedic explant´s surface compared to tissue samples or punction fluid. This may reduce the number of samples and cost but enhances the quality of orthopaedic implant-related infection diagnostics.

Indexed as

Prosthesis-Related InfectionsAdultAgedAged, 80 and overAnti-Bacterial AgentsDevice RemovalFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedAnti-Bacterial AgentsImplant removalImplant surfaceOrthopaedic implant infection diagnostics

Identifiers

PMID39969590
PMCPMC12003479

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