Nearly one million total hip arthroplasties and total knee arthroplasties are performed in the United States each year, a number that is expected to continue to increase for decades given the aging of the population and increases in body mass index. Prosthetic joint infection (PJI) is one of the most dreaded complications following arthroplasty surgery and is the leading cause of implant failure and costly revision surgery, with PJI rates estimated at up to 1 percent for hip and shoulder replacements and up to 2 percent in knee replacements. Yet, there is no definitive test for PJI, as most laboratory tests are indirect measures of infection. Painful joint history and physical exam remain the primary diagnostic tools. However, much research is currently happening, searching for specific markers of PJI. DTET examined recent studies of promising markers associated with PJI. Protein Markers In Synovial Fluid May Diagnose, Provide Ongoing Monitoring of PJI Interleukin (IL)-16, IL-18, and cysteine-rich with EGF-like domains 2 (CRELD2) are potential biomarkers for PJI diagnosis, according to a study published in the April issue of Bone & Joint Research. Tests of these markers in synovial fluid outperformed blood tests and may be useful for follow-up monitoring of PFJI […]