Diagnostic potential of inflammatory markers in septic arthritis and periprosthetic joint infections: a clinical study with 719 patients

Abstract

The SFWBC, CRPS, %PMN and synovial lactate were the best inflammatory markers in predicting septic arthritis. Synovial lactate levels > 10 mmol/l or an SFWBC > 50 × 10(3)/μl substantially increased disease probability, while SFWBC < 1.0 × 10(3)/μl or CRPS < 0.5 mg/dl diminished the post-test probability of septic arthritis considerably. An SFWBC < 1.1 × 10(3)/μl or a %PMN < 70% made a PJI unlikely, while SFWBC > 20 × 10(3)/μl or %PMN > 86% increased the post-test probability of a PJI. The use of the corresponding interval likelihood ratios could help physicians to estimate the probability of septic arthritis and PJI more accurately.