Is “Aseptic” Loosening of the Prosthetic Cup after Total Hip Replacement Due to Nonculturable Bacterial Pathogens in Patients with Low‐Grade Infection?

Abstract

PCR for detection of 16S rRNA in tissue specimens obtained from hip joints is not superior to routine bacteriologic culture techniques for detection of low-grade infections. However, these results demonstrate that the loosening of cups in THPs do not usually result from nonculturable periprosthetic infection, if the microbiological processing is adequate.