Septic arthritis following arthroscopic reconstruction of cruciate ligaments of the knee: retrospective case review

Arthroscopy in India Through the Medicolegal Lens: A Comprehensive Review

Introduction

With the increasing number of Arthroscopic surgeries, comes with it, the undesirable problem of litigation associated with it. Arthroscopy does possess certain unique aspects which need to be understood from the legal point of view as well.

Materials and Methods

We obtained information on specific medico-legal cases involving arthroscopy from books and websites containing collections of medico-legal judgments in Indian legal courts, consumer dispute redressal forums at the state and national levels, and state medical councils..

Results

We assimilated and analysed all this information, combined it with our experience in the field of medical law, and have provided practical, enforceable ways to decrease the medicolegal risk for arthroscopy surgeons.

Conclusion

This review provides a comprehensive overview of pressing issues in relation to the medicolegal aspects of arthroscopic surgery.

Septic Arthritis Complicating Arthroscopic Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction: An Experience from a Tertiary-Care Hospital

Background

Septic arthritis (SA) of the knee following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is considered a catastrophic complication in terms of reduced or loss function of the involved joint. The aims of this study were to gauge the incidence, risk factors, and causative organisms of SA after ACLR.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 836 patients who underwent primary ACLR at our institution from October 2018 to September 2021. Patients’ demographics, onset of presentation, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and management details were obtained from patients’ electronic medical records.

Results

Out of the 836 primary ACLRs, 12 were complicated with SA (1.43%). Independent risk factors associated with SA included age (OR; 11.12, 95% CI; 1.3–94.97), obesity (OR; 8.51, 95% CI; 1.02–71.13), and diabetes mellitus (OR; 12.58, 95% CI; 2.39–66.3). Staphylococcus aureus was the most frequent culprit organism (66.7%), followed by Streptococcus species (25%), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (8.3%). No fungal, mycobacterial, or polymicrobial growth were recovered from synovial fluid cultures. All of the infected cases underwent arthroscopic joint lavage and debridement in the operating room followed by intravenous antibiotics. Graft removal was not done in any of the involved patients, with eradication of infection in all cases.

Conclusion

SA after ACLR is uncommon, with S. aureus identified in about two-thirds of the patients. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial to avoid graft loss and arthritis-associated joint damage. Orthopedic surgeons should consider rigorous implementation of infection control strategies to minimize the incidence of this devastating morbidity.

Bacterial contamination of irrigation fluid and suture material during ACL reconstruction and meniscus surgery : Low infection rate despite increasing contamination over surgery time

PURPOSE

During knee arthroscopy, irrigation fluid from the surgical site accumulates in the sterile reservoir. Whether these fluid collections and also suture material used during the arthroscopic surgical processes show bacterial contamination over time during surgery remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to determine this contamination rate and to analyze its possible influence on postoperative infection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, 155 patients were included. Fifty-eight underwent reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL), 63 meniscal surgery and 34 patients combined ACL reconstruction and meniscus repair. We collected pooled samples of irrigation fluid from the reservoir on the sterile drape every 15 min during the surgery. In addition, we evaluated suture material of ACL graft and meniscus repair for bacterial contamination. Samples were sent for microbiological analysis, incubation time was 14 days. All patients were seen in the outpatient department 6, 12 weeks and 12 months postoperatively and examined for clinical signs of infection.

RESULTS

A strong statistical correlation (R² = 0.81, p = 0.015) was found between an advanced duration of surgery and the number of positive microbiological findings in the accumulated fluid. Suture and fixation material showed a contamination rate of 28.4% (29 cases). Despite the high contamination rate, only one infection was found in the follow-up examinations, caused by Staphylococcus lugdunensis.

CONCLUSION

Since bacterial contamination of accumulated fluid increases over time the contact with the fluid reservoirs should be avoided.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.

A More Positive Culture by Resin-containing Media Usage after Suspicious Arthroscopic Infections in Patients Receiving Antimicrobial Therapy

BACKGROUND

Although infections following arthroscopic surgery of cruciate ligament and meniscus are uncommon, they have potentially serious consequences for the graft and articular cartilage. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of correct sampling and appropriate media, especially resin-containing media, for the detection of infections in patients receiving antibiotics under suspicion of joint infection after arthroscopic anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscal surgery. In such cases, proper sampling and the use of suitable culture media that cause the neutralization of antibiotics are very effective in isolating microorganisms from the patient samples and positive cultures.

METHODS

In total, 10 patients who had received antibiotics with suspected knee infection after arthroscopic ACL and meniscal surgery were identified after referral to surgeons during a period of 10 months and investigated in this study. The sample collection, culture on various media (i.e., resin-containing culture media), microbiological tests, and antibiotic susceptibility tests were performed in this study. The amplification of the mecA gene using PCR assay was accomplished for methicillin-resistant staphylococcus strains.

RESULTS

This study was conducted on 10 patients who underwent arthroscopic procedures and had received antibiotics. Overall, joint fluid and tissue culture were positive in 60% of the patients. The resin-containing media revealed a trend toward increased detection of bacteria. Coagulase-negative staphylococcus strains were the most frequently isolated bacteria in arthroscopic ACL surgery infections. Out of five methicillin-resistant staphylococcus strains, four strains were found that were resistant to cefoxitin and positive-mecA designated as methicillin-resistant strains. Except for one case, the rest of the staphylococcal strains were resistant to methicillin but susceptible to vancomycin.

CONCLUSION

Despite uncommon and low percentage of infections after arthroscopic ACL and meniscal surgery, the results of our study showed that correct sampling, appropriate cultures, especially aerobic and anaerobic resin-containing media, and microbiological testing remained useful and valuable for diagnosing bacterial infections.