3. The SFA/SOFCOT/ORTHORISQ practice survey
Among SFA, SOFCOT and/or ORTHORISQ members invited to
participate in the practice survey, 264 responded. They constituted
a fairly uniform population of experienced surgeons, of whom
three-quarters had been performing arthroscopic procedures for
over 10 years, with over 50 and over 100 arthroscopic interventions
of the same type per year for 85% and 50% of respondents,
respectively. The respondents reported 293 confirmed and 288
suspected post-arthroscopy infections, underlying the diagnostic
uncertainty that exists in many cases. The patients were predominantly
young males (46% were younger than 40 and 33% were 40
to 60 years of age). Among risk factors for infection, smoking was
noted in 61% of patients, obesity in 21%, and diabetes in 20%. Elite
athletes contributed 15% ofthe patient population and were at high
risk for infection, confirming previously published data [12,14].
The knee was predominantly affected (n = 167), followed by the
shoulder (n = 40). The ankle, hip, and elbow were rarely involved.
The most common arthroscopic procedures were ligament reconstruction
at the knee (60% of post-arthroscopy knee infections) and
rotator cuff repair at the shoulder (over 70% of post-arthroscopy
shoulder infections). In half the cases, an implant or transplant
had been introduced. The procedures were considered simple by
the surgeons in 87% of cases and the operative time was less than
1 hour in 69% of cases. Onset of the symptoms of infection was
abrupt in about two-thirds of cases and usually occurred early,
within the first month in nine-tenths of cases. Three-quarters of
patients exhibited prominent manifestations with highly suggestive
local changes, constitutional symptoms, and laboratory test
results. However, in about two-thirds of cases, the healing process
was recorded as having proceeded smoothly during the immediate
postoperative period. Joint aspiration was usually performed, and a
further operation was done in 183 patients, in some instances without
previous joint aspiration. The leading organism was S. aureus
(71%), followed by P. acnes (12%), and coagulase-negative staphylococci
(11%). Over three-quarters of patients were managed by a
multidisciplinary team including an orthopaedic surgeon, a microbiologist,
and an infectious diseases specialist. In 85% of cases,the treatment combined surgery, which was performed arthroscopically
in four-fifths of cases, and two concomitant antibiotics,
usually given for 6 weeks. The surgical procedure always consisted
in joint lavage and synovectomy and confirmed Gächter stage I or
II arthritis in 86% of cases. Transplant removal, because of changes
suggesting necrosis, was required in only 3% of cases and implant
removal in 10% of cases. In 10% of cases, a second arthroscopic
lavage procedure was carried out because of unfavourable clinical
and laboratory findings. The infection was fully eradicated in all
patients but 1. At last follow-up, the functional outcome was considered
good or very good in 71% of cases, fair in 19%, and poor in
10%.
Overall, the findings from this survey of practices regarding
post-arthroscopy infections are consistent with previously published
data. They confirm a growing awareness among surgeons
that post-arthroscopy infection, although rare, is extremely severe
and requires a combination of appropriate medical and surgical
measures on an emergency basis, with the involvement of a
multidisciplinary team and improved information to the patient.
Nevertheless, persisting diagnostic challenges can result in inappropriate
treatments such as empirical antibiotic therapy before
microbiological sample collection in patients with suspected infection.
These treatment errors are ascribable to mistaken or missed
diagnoses and must be eliminated, as they complicate the situation
(by precluding a definite microbiological diagnosis and allowing
a low-grade infection to cause functional deterioration) and can
result in litigation. Clearly, there is a need for practical recommendations
regarding the optimal management of post-arthroscopy
infections.