Unexpected positive cultures after revision shoulder arthroplasty: does it affect outcome?

Publikation: Bidrag til tidsskriftTidsskriftartikelForskningfagfællebedømt

  • Thomas Falstie-Jensen
  • Jeppe Lange
  • Henrik Daugaard
  • Anne Katrine Belling Sørensen
  • Janne Ovesen
  • Kjeld Søballe
  • Olsen, Bo Sanderhoff
  • L. C. Gormsen
  • B. Zerahn
  • H. V.S. Johanssen
  • B. Elmengaard
  • T. M. Thillemann
  • L. Bolvig
  • ROSA study group

Background: Several studies have confirmed a high rate of unexpected positive cultures (UPCs) after presumably aseptic revisions of shoulder arthroplasties; however, the impact on the outcome is still unclear. The purpose of this prospective study is to compare the patient-reported outcomes of standard revisions with and without the emergence of UPCs. Methods: During a 3-year period, we included all patients who were revised for reasons other than suspicion of infection from 2 orthopedic centers. Five biopsies were obtained from every revision, and only cultures with the same bacteria in at least 3 biopsy specimens were classified as UPCs. All patients were assessed using the Oxford Shoulder Score (OSS) and range of motion preoperatively and after at least a 2-year follow-up. Results: In this study, 124 patients were included, with a median follow-up of 29 months (range 29-32), and UPCs emerged after 27 revisions (22%), with Cutibacterium acnes accounting for 67% (18/27). At baseline, the OSS was 22 in both the culture-negative and UPC groups (P =.46). Then, at follow-up, the OSS was 37 in the culture-negative group and 35 in the UPC group (P =.91). The forward elevation increased significantly by 44° and 41°, respectively, in the 2 groups, but no statistically significant difference between the culture-negative group and the UPC group was found (P =.66). In contrast, the external rotation was unchanged after the revision, and again, no difference in the change between the culture-negative and UPC groups (P =.54) was observed. Subgroup analyses stratified by different implant designs revealed equal patterns with no statistical differences in outcome. Conclusion: We did not find a difference in outcome after a presumed aseptic revision regardless of the emergence of UPCs. Similarly, we could not demonstrate that patients with UPCs presented with poorer function at baseline compared with culture-negative patients. The clinical relevance of UPCs thus requires further evaluation, especially in the case of C acnes as a potential pathogenic versus a merely colonizing microbe.

OriginalsprogEngelsk
TidsskriftJournal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery
Vol/bind30
Udgave nummer6
Sider (fra-til)1299-1308
Antal sider10
ISSN1058-2746
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
The study was funded by a grant from Aarhus University for PhD salary (no grant number).

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Journal of Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Board of Trustees

ID: 301439711