Arthroscopic debridement with continuous irrigation for septic arthritis of the shoulder joint

Failure rates in surgical treatment in adults with bacterial arthritis of a native joint: a systematic review of 8,586 native joints

INTRODUCTION

Most adult cases of bacterial-septic-arthritis of a native joint are effectively managed with a single surgical debridement, but some cases may require more than one debridement to control the infection. Consequently, this study assessed the failure rate of a single surgical debridement in adults with bacterial arthritis of a native joint. Additionally, risk factors for failure were assessed.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The review protocol was registered on PROSPERO (CRD42021243460) before data collection and conducted in line with the 'Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses' (PRISMA) guidelines. Multiple libraries were systematically searched to identify articles including patients reporting on the incidence of failure (i.e. persistence of infection requiring reoperation) of the treatment of bacterial arthritis. The quality of individual evidence were assessed using the Quality in Prognosis Studies (QUIPS) tool. Failure rates were extracted from included studies and pooled. Risk factors for failure were extracted and grouped. Moreover, we evaluated which risk factors were significantly associated with failure.

RESULTS

Thirty studies (8,586 native joints) were included in the final analysis. The overall pooled failure rate was 26% (95% CI 20 to 32%). The failure rate of arthroscopy and arthrotomy was 26% (95% CI 19 to 34%) and 24% (95% CI 17 to 33%), respectively. Seventy-nine potential risk factors were extracted and grouped. Moderate evidence was found for one risk factor (synovial white blood cell count), and limited evidence was found for five risk factors (i.e. sepsis, large joint infection, the volume of irrigation, blood urea nitrogen-test, and blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio).

CONCLUSION

A single surgical debridement fails to control bacterial arthritis of a native joint in approximately a quarter of all adult cases. Limited to moderate evidence exists that risk factors associated with failure are: synovial white blood cell count, sepsis, large joint infection, and the volume of irrigation. These factors should urge physicians to be especially receptive to signs of an adverse clinical course.

Joint aspiration and serum markers - do they matter in the diagnosis of native shoulder sepsis? A systematic review

Background

Septic arthritis of the native shoulder is traditionally diagnosed with the same strategies as knee or hip septic arthritis. However, septic arthritis of the shoulder is frequently a missed or delayed diagnosis. Reliance on aspiration and serum markers has been called into question recently. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review investigating the value of joint aspiration and serum markers in the diagnosis of native shoulder joint sepsis.

Methods

PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library were used in the systematic literature search from January 1, 1960, through January 23, 2021. The primary outcome was to report on the synovial white cell count of patients with native shoulder sepsis. Descriptive statistics using percentages, means, and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) values were used to summarize the results.

Results

Thirty-one studies, including 25 case series, one case-control, and five cohort studies with a total of 7434 native shoulder joints, were included. There was no standardized approach to diagnosing septic arthritis of the shoulder. Only 10 studies (32%) reported on synovial white cell count with the majority yielding aspiration counts greater than 50,000 cells/mm³, although one study was as low as 30,000 cells/mm³.

Conclusions

The diagnosis of native shoulder joint sepsis lacks uniformity. Methods used to evaluate shoulder sepsis are heterogeneous and may lead to delays or misdiagnosis with devastating sequelae. Synovial white cell count is underutilized and may also present with a lower value than expected, which is likely related to the time interval between symptom onset and diagnosis.

Osteomyelitis on MR imaging as a key predictor of recurrent septic arthritis of the shoulder

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the clinical and radiologic predictors of postoperative recurrent septic arthritis of the shoulder (SAS) using multivariable analysis.

METHODS

Forty-three patients (mean age, 65 years; 24 women) who underwent surgery for SAS between January 2011 and October 2019 were retrospectively enrolled. An orthopedic surgeon assessed clinical (age, sex, comorbidity, duration from symptom onset to MR imaging and surgery, surgical method, antibiotic usage), laboratory (serum white blood cell [WBC] count, C-reactive protein [CRP] level, synovial cell count), and surgical findings (culture/biopsy results). Two musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated MR imaging findings (bone marrow [reactive bone marrow edema, osteomyelitis, osteochondral erosion] and soft tissue [synovitis, bursitis, muscle edema, abscess] abnormalities). Recurrent SAS was evaluated at ≥ 12 months postoperatively. Univariable and multivariable analyses were performed to determine the best predictor of recurrent SAS.

RESULTS

The overall recurrent SAS rate was 33% (14/43). On univariable analysis, mean age (without recurrence vs. recurrence: 68 vs. 59 years, p = .04), mean duration from symptom onset to surgery (18 vs. 25 days, p = .02), serum WBC count (12,000 vs. 9,000 cells/mL³, p = .04), CRP level (13 vs. 6 mg/L, p = .01), and osteomyelitis on MR imaging (p < .01 for both readers) significantly differed between patients with and without recurrence; on multivariable analysis, only osteomyelitis on MR imaging was significantly associated with recurrent SAS for both readers (p = .02 and .01 for each reader respectively). The inter-reader agreement was good (κ = .62-1.0) for all MR imaging findings, except for muscle edema (fair, κ = .37).

CONCLUSION

Osteomyelitis on MR imaging was the best predictor of recurrent SAS.

KEY POINTS

• Osteomyelitis on preoperative MR imaging was the best predictor associated with recurrent septic arthritis of the shoulder on multivariable analysis including clinical, laboratory, and MR findings. • In multivariable analyses focused on each bone marrow abnormality, with adjustment for clinical and laboratory parameters, the presence of reactive bone marrow edema and osteochondral erosion on MR imaging showed no significant association with recurrent septic arthritis of the shoulder.

Arthroscopic Management of Septic Arthritis of the Native Shoulder: A Systematic Review

PURPOSE

To investigate arthroscopic management of native shoulder joint septic arthritis-specifically, indications, patient outcomes, and complications.

METHODS

PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase were used to search the literature, and data abstraction was performed independently and in duplicate. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) checklist guided reporting and data abstraction. The quality of all included studies was assessed with the Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies (MINORS) criteria. The results are presented in a narrative summary fashion using descriptive statistics including means, proportions, ranges, κ values, and intraclass correlation coefficient values.

RESULTS

Overall, 27 studies (19 case reports and 8 case series) were identified, including 115 patients (121 shoulders). The mean follow-up period was 29.1 months (range, 1-199 months). The indications for shoulder arthroscopy owing to infection included pain; limited range of motion; swelling, erythema, and tenderness; fever; elevated leukocyte count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, and/or C-reactive protein level; synovial aspirate findings; and/or imaging findings. Overall, 46 patients (40%) achieved infection eradication and functional improvement after a single arthroscopic procedure. However, 43 patients (37%) had ongoing symptoms or complications, including 32 (30%) who required revision arthroscopic procedures, 7 (6%) who underwent open arthrotomy for septic arthritis management, 2 (2%) in whom avascular necrosis of the humeral head developed, 1 (1%) in whom adhesive capsulitis developed, and 1 (1%) in whom an irregular profile of the humeral epiphysis developed on plain radiographs.

CONCLUSIONS

Arthroscopic management of native shoulder septic arthritis can yield alleviation of pain and a return to full range of motion, daily activities, and sports. However, there is a high reoperation rate, which may correlate with poor patient prognostic factors. This systematic review did not show the superiority of either arthroscopic surgery or open arthrotomy for the management of shoulder septic arthritis.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, systematic review of Level IV studies.