RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Low Diagnostic Value of Synovial Aspiration Culture Prior to Reimplantation in Periprosthetic Joint Infection JF In Vivo JO In Vivo FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 2409 OP 2416 DO 10.21873/invivo.12518 VO 35 IS 4 A1 CHRISTIAN MACKE A1 STEFAN LENHOF A1 TILMAN GRAULICH A1 MARCUS ÖRGEL A1 TAREK OMAR-PACHA A1 TIMO STÜBIG A1 CHRISTIAN KRETTEK A1 MOHAMED OMAR YR 2021 UL http://iv.iiarjournals.org/content/35/4/2409.abstract AB Background/Aim: We aimed to determine the diagnostic value of the synovial aspiration culture prior to reimplantation in two- (or more) stage exchange of periprosthetic joint infection. Patients and Methods: This was a retrospective study, spanning over ten years including all synovial cultures of patients with two- (or more) stage exchange due to periprosthetic joint infection. Results: A total of 183 patients were included, mean age was 66.6 years (range=12.8-93.4 years). Overall sensitivity of synovial aspiration cultures before reimplantation was 56.6%, specificity 84.6%, negative predictive value (NPV) 63.8%, positive predictive value (PPV) 80.2%, area under the curve (AUC) 70.6%. Sensitivity of the knee in comparison to the hip culture was significantly higher, as well as the NPV and the AUC (p=0.038). In case of complete removal of prosthesis, the sensitivity and AUC were significantly reduced, whereas the specificity was comparable with prosthesis in situ, partial removal or complete removal. Conclusion: Due to the low sensitivity, obtaining several synovial cultures in the prosthesis-free interval to exclude persistence of infection, does not seem reasonable.