Background: There is currently a lack of consensus regarding the most effective diagnostic algorithm for cases of supposed low-grade infection after total hip arthoplasty (THA).
Objective: The aim of this study was to assess reliability in the use of biopsies, obtained by hip arthroscopy, to detect a periprosthetic hip joint infection (PJI).
Methods: From 2012 to 2016, diagnostic arthroscopy of the hip joint was performed in 20 patients with a supposed PJI following THA. In 10 of these patients, the THA was revised for various reasons after diagnostic arthroscopy. The microbiological and histological findings of the biopsies obtained by arthroscopy were compared to findings from intraoperative samples of the revision arthroplasty.
Results: For arthroscopic biopsies, we detected a sensitivity of 1.00 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.40-1.00), a specificity of 0.83 (95% CI 0.36-1.00), a positive predictive value of 0.80 (95% CI 0.28-1.00), and a negative predictive value of 1.00 (95% CI 0.48-1.00). The accuracy was 0.90.
Conclusions: The analysis of arthroscopic biopsies represents a helpful tool to verify or rule out a PJI in selected patients. Nevertheless, minimally invasive diagnostic tools (e.g., laboratory analysis and aspiration) should be utilized beforehand.
Keywords: Arthroscopy; hip joint; low-grade infection; periprosthetic joint infection; revision arthroplasty; synovial biopsy.