Value of knee skin temperature measured by infrared thermography and soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in the diagnosis of peri-prosthetic knee infection in Chinese individuals following total knee arthroplasty

• Published in: Chinese medical journal 2014, Vol.127 (17), p.3105-3109
• Main Authors: Mumingjiang, Yishake, Zhou, Xindie, He, Rongxin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee - adverse effects; Blood Sedimentation; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Female; Humans; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 - metabolism; Interleukin-6 - blood; Knee Joint - immunology; Knee Joint - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Prospective Studies; Skin Temperature - physiology; Thermography - methods; 可溶性; 感染; 测量值; 皮肤温度; 红外热成像; 细胞间粘附分子-1; 细胞间黏附分子-1; 膝关节
• ISSN: 0366-6999; 2542-5641
• DOI: 10.3760/cma.j.issn.0366-6999.20140482

Background Total knee arthroplasty （TKA） is a successful and frequently performed procedure in orthopedic surgery.The diagnosis of peri-prosthetic joint infection following TKA remains challenging.The present study estimated the usefulness of knee skin temperature （measured by infrared thermography） and serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 （slCAM-1） in the diagnosis of post-operative knee peri-prosthetic infection.Methods Patients were divided into three groups：21 patients undergoing uncomplicated TKAs,seven with prosthesis infection,and three undergoing TKA revisions.The serum levels of interleukin-6 （IL-6）,C-reactive protein （CRP）,erythrocyte sedimentation rate （ESR）,and slCAM-1 as well as the local knee skin temperature were measured preoperatively and on Days 1 and 7 and at 1,3,and 6 months post-operatively in Groups 1 and 3.The same parameters were measured in Group 2 at the time of prosthesis infection diagnosis.Results In Group 1,the levels of IL-6,CRP,ESR,and knee skin temperature were significantly elevated post-operatively,but returned to baseline levels within 6 months.The slCAM-1 levels were not significantly different.The mean differential temperature （MDT） and levels of siCAM-1,IL-6,CRP,and ESR differed significantly between Groups 1 and 2.The MDT had returned to normal in Group 3 by 6 months post-operatively.Conclusions Elevations in IL-6,CRP,ESR,and MDT in patients undergoing TKA could be a normal response to surgical trauma,but sustained elevations may be indicative of complications.The knee skin temperature and slCAM-1 may be used as indicators in the diagnosis of knee prosthesis infection following TKA.