JOA - 2026-07-13 - Journal Article
Trauma-Related Arthroplasty Is Associated With Earlier and Microbiologically Distinct Periprosthetic Joint Infection: A 20-Year Single-Center Study.
Moynan D, O'Connor C, Woo J, Kenny C, Brady D, O'hEireamhoin S, Moroney P, Muldoon EG
Topics
Key Takeaway
Trauma-related PJI occurs at a median of 12 weeks versus 56 weeks post-arthroplasty, with significantly higher rates of Gram-negative (26.8% vs 8.6%), Enterococcus (19.5% vs 0.6%), and Candida (9.8% vs 1.2%) infections compared to elective PJI.
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Summary
This 20-year single-center retrospective cohort compared PJI characteristics and outcomes between trauma-related and elective arthroplasty cases. Trauma-related PJI presented earlier (12 vs 56 weeks), harbored more Gram-negative, Enterococcal, and Candida pathogens, and carried higher 6-month mortality (17% vs 5%, P=0.014). Twelve-month cure rates did not differ significantly (51% vs 60%, P=0.281), and on multivariable analysis, trauma indication was not an independent predictor of cure—increasing age reduced and two-stage revision increased odds of cure.
Key Limitation
The 41-patient trauma cohort is underpowered for multivariable logistic regression, risking type II error in the cure analysis and limiting the reliability of adjusted odds ratios for trauma-specific predictors.
Original Abstract
BACKGROUND
Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) following arthroplasty performed for trauma (e.g., hip fracture) may differ from PJI after elective arthroplasty in terms of timing, microbiology, and outcomes, but comparative data remain limited.
METHODS
We conducted a 20-year single-center retrospective cohort study (2003 to 2023) at a tertiary referral hospital, of which 41 (20%) followed trauma-related arthroplasty and 162 (80%) followed elective procedures. Adults diagnosed with PJI were identified using Hospital In-Patient Enquiry coding (ICD-10 T84.5) and an infectious diseases outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy (OPAT) database, with chart confirmation. The primary outcome was treatment success ("cure") at 12 months, defined as cessation of antimicrobial therapy, functional restoration of the prosthetic joint, and no evidence of recurrent infection. The main exposure was arthroplasty indication (trauma versus elective). Analyses included descriptive statistics, Kaplan-Meier analysis for time from arthroplasty to infection, and multivariable logistic regressions for cure.
RESULTS
Trauma cases had a lower body mass index (median 26 versus 29, P = 0.004) and occurred earlier, with a median time from arthroplasty to infection of 12 weeks compared with 56 weeks in elective cases (log-rank Chi-square 27.5, P = 0.001). Microbiology differed: Gram-negative organisms (26.8 versus 8.6%, P = 0.0042), Enterococcus species (19.5 versus 0.6%, P = 0.045), and Candida species (9.8 versus 1.2%, P = 0.004) were more frequent after trauma, while Streptococci were identified only in elective cases (17.3 versus 0%, P = 0.004). The six-month mortality was higher after trauma (17 versus 5%, P = 0.014). The cure at 12 months did not differ significantly (51 versus 60%, P = 0.281). In adjusted analyses, increasing age reduced odds of cure, while two-stage revision increased odds; trauma-related arthroplasty was not an independent predictor.
CONCLUSIONS
Trauma-related PJI represents a distinct phenotype with earlier onset, different pathogen spectrum, and higher early mortality, supporting tailored perioperative management in trauma arthroplasty.