Sensitivity of Frozen Section Histology for Identifying Propionibacterium acnes Infections in Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty

Abstract

Using current histopathology grading systems, frozen sections were specific but showed low sensitivity with respect to the Propionibacterium acnes infection. A new threshold value of a total of ten or more polymorphonuclear leukocytes in five high-power fields may increase the sensitivity of frozen section, with minimal impact on specificity.