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Table 3 The diagnostic criteria of PJI of the elbow

From: Clinical characteristics and risk factors for culture-negative periprosthetic joint infections

The following three parameters provide a definitive diagnosis of elbow PJI

 A sinus tract that is communicating with the prosthesis

 Isolation of identical pathogens from two or more separate cultures obtained under sterile conditions

 Presence of intra-articular pus

The following criteria are concerning for infection and should be considered in aggregate

 Warmth, redness, swelling, of the elbow

 Elevated serum inflammatory markers (ESR, CRP)—except in cases of inflammatory arthropathies

 Elevated synovial WBC count

 Elevated synovial polymorphonuclear percentage

 Isolation of organism from one sample

 Histologic evidence of acute inflammation

 Early unexpected component loosening

 Endosteal scalloping, rapid progressive loosening on radiographs

  1. PJI periprosthetic joint infection, ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate, CRP C-reactive protein, WBC white blood cell