INTRODUCTION: Little information is available regarding the rate of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) without antibiotic prophylaxis. Hand surgeons should be aware of patients' history of arthroplasty. METHODS: All patients who underwent CTR at our institution between 2012 and 2014 were identified and their charts were reviewed to identify those who had a history of total hip, knee, and/or shoulder arthroplasty. Further chart review consisted of identifying a history of PJI, use of perioperative antibiotics, and surgeon awareness of prior arthroplasty. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-five CTR surgeries were performed in patients who had previously undergone total joint arthroplasty (TJA). There were no PJIs in any group of patients (P = 0.01). Hand surgeon awareness of the presence of an arthroplasty history had no discernable effect on the choice to use antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: There was a 0% rate of PJI in our series of patients with a history of TJA who underwent CTR. Overall hand surgeon awareness of TJA status was poor or poorly documented. Routine prophylactic antibiotics may not be indicated in patients undergoing CTR, even with the presence of a prosthetic joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
INTRODUCTION: Little information is available regarding the rate of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) without antibiotic prophylaxis. Hand surgeons should be aware of patients' history of arthroplasty. METHODS: All patients who underwent CTR at our institution between 2012 and 2014 were identified and their charts were reviewed to identify those who had a history of total hip, knee, and/or shoulder arthroplasty. Further chart review consisted of identifying a history of PJI, use of perioperative antibiotics, and surgeon awareness of prior arthroplasty. RESULTS: Two hundred seventy-five CTR surgeries were performed in patients who had previously undergone total joint arthroplasty (TJA). There were no PJIs in any group of patients (P = 0.01). Hand surgeon awareness of the presence of an arthroplasty history had no discernable effect on the choice to use antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: There was a 0% rate of PJI in our series of patients with a history of TJA who underwent CTR. Overall hand surgeon awareness of TJA status was poor or poorly documented. Routine prophylactic antibiotics may not be indicated in patients undergoing CTR, even with the presence of a prosthetic joint. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: IV.
Authors: Michael R Bykowski; Wesley N Sivak; James Cray; Glenn Buterbaugh; Joseph E Imbriglia; W P Andrew Lee Journal: J Hand Surg Am Date: 2011-10-05 Impact factor: 2.230
Authors: Kenneth David Illingworth; William M Mihalko; Javad Parvizi; Thomas Sculco; Benjamin McArthur; Youssef el Bitar; Khaled J Saleh Journal: J Bone Joint Surg Am Date: 2013-04-17 Impact factor: 5.284
Authors: Peter B Lockhart; Michael T Brennan; M Louise Kent; H James Norton; David A Weinrib Journal: Circulation Date: 2004-06-01 Impact factor: 29.690
Authors: Tahaniyat Lalani; Vivian H Chu; Chelsea A Grussemeyer; Shelby D Reed; Michael P Bolognesi; Joelle Y Friedman; Robert I Griffiths; David R Crosslin; Zeina A Kanafani; Keith S Kaye; G Ralph Corey; Vance G Fowler Journal: Scand J Infect Dis Date: 2008