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Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 1/2013

Open Access 01-12-2013 | Research article

Value of digital telethermography for the diagnosis of septic knee prosthesis: a prospective cohort study

Authors: Carlo Luca Romanò, Roberto D’Anchise, Marco Calamita, Giovanni Manzi, Delia Romanò, Valerio Sansone

Published in: BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders | Issue 1/2013

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Abstract

Background

Diagnosis of peri-prosthetic infection remains challenging, often requiring a combination of different tests.

Methods

In this prospective, case–control study, the diagnostic accuracy of telethermography was evaluated in a group of seventy patients who had had a total knee replacement and were undergoing a reoperation because of infection or another implant-related problem, after a minimum of one year from implant.

Results

An average differential temperature of the affected versus not affected knee of 1.9°C was observed in infected prosthesis, compared to 0.3°C in aseptic failures. Considering a normal reference value equal or less than 1.0°C, telethermography showed an accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value of, respectively: 0.90, 0.89, 0.91, 0.91, 0.88.

Conclusions

Digital telethermography is a reliable option for diagnosing peri-prosthetic knee infection.
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Metadata
Title
Value of digital telethermography for the diagnosis of septic knee prosthesis: a prospective cohort study
Authors
Carlo Luca Romanò
Roberto D’Anchise
Marco Calamita
Giovanni Manzi
Delia Romanò
Valerio Sansone
Publication date
01-12-2013
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders / Issue 1/2013
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2474
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2474-14-7

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