Tumor necrosis factor-α antagonists (anti-TNFα) have become increasingly more common as a treatment for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, there has been an increased incidence of severe infections in patients taking anti-TNFα therapy. We present a case series of RA patients treated with anti-TNFα therapy that had previously underwent TJA and subsequently developed periprosthetic infections. A...

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is a significant and costly challenge to the orthopedic community. The lack of a gold standard for diagnosis remains the biggest obstacle in the detection and subsequent treatment of PJI. Molecular markers in the serum and joint fluid aspirate hold immense promise to enhance the development of a firm diagnostic criterion. The primary goal is one marker with ...

Background: Periprosthetic infection is the most serious joint replacement complication, occurring in 0.8-1.9% of totalknee arthroplasties (TKAs).This review aims to define the role of preoperative aspiration culture (PAC) for diagnosis of TKA infection.Methods: A PubMed (MEDLINE) search related to TKA infection and PAC was analyzed. The main criteria for selectionwere that the articles were fo...

The purpose of this manuscript is to document results and complications of use of a regenerative dermal matrix skin substitute for coverage of extremity wounds. A retrospective review at 3 institutions identified 28 patients and 34 wounds who had undergone use of this material (Integra). Complications included failure in two patients (4 wounds). However, overall "take" of the regenerative matri...

1 Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, Linkou, Kweishan 333, Taiwan 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA 3HELIOS ENDO-Klinik Hamburg, Holstenstraße 2, Hamburg 22767, Germany 4Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Stanford University Medical Center, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA 5 Skeletal Diseases Ge...

Total hip joint replacement offers dramatic improvement in the quality of life but periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most devastating complication of this procedure. The infection threatens the function of the joint, the preservation of the limb, and occasionally even the life of the patient due to long term hospitalization and high cost. For the surgeon it is a disastrous burden, whi...