SynthesisArchives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery2026
Is synovial calprotectin lateral flow test a reliable intraoperative biomarker for periprosthetic joint infection? A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Synthesis in Archives of orthopaedic and trauma surgery, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- The serum C1q-to-CRP ratio performs well for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infection in revision arthroplasty.Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026Article
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Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionPeriprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) remains one of the most challenging complications in arthroplasty, often leading to diagnostic uncertainty and suboptimal treatment decisions. Synovial calprotectin has emerged as a promising biomarker, with the lateral flow test (LFT) offering real-time results for intraoperative decision-making. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of intraoperative synovial calprotectin LFT in detecting PJI. MATERIALS AND
methodsA systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted according to PRISMA guidelines. Thirteen studies comprising 990 patients were included. Pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV), likelihood ratios (LR+, LR−), diagnostic odds ratio (DOR), and area under the curve (AUC) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed based on test kit type and calprotectin cutoff values.
resultsThe pooled sensitivity and specificity of synovial calprotectin LFT were 88% (95% CI: 82–92%) and 89% (95% CI: 83–93%), respectively, with an AUC of 0.94. The DOR was 56.1 (95% CI: 28.4-110.8). The ≥ 50 mg/L cutoff subgroup demonstrated superior diagnostic performance across all metrics. Despite subgroup analysis, heterogeneity remained high (I² = 74.1%), likely due to differences in reference standards, joint types, and study design.
conclusionsIntraoperative synovial calprotectin LFT is a highly accurate and rapid diagnostic tool for PJI, with strong applicability in real-world surgical settings. Its cost-effectiveness and ease of use support its integration as a valuable adjunctive marker within standard diagnostic algorithms, providing supplementary evidence when conventional criteria remain inconclusive.
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