Synovial Fluid Leukocyte Count and Differential Are Poor Standalone Rule-in Tests for Periprosthetic Joint Infection: Results of a Methodological Audit and Reanalysis of the 2025 Meta-analysis Underpinning the Unified Periprosthetic Joint Infection Criteria
Listen to this summary
The authors aimed to evaluate the methodological rigor of the 2025 meta-analysis supporting the Unified Periprosthetic Joint Infection (PJI) Criteria and to determine whether synovial fluid leukocyte count and polymorphonuclear cell percentage are reliable standalone tests for diagnosing PJI. Their findings revealed critical limitations in the original meta-analysis, including data integrity issues and high heterogeneity, leading to the conclusion that these tests do not provide sufficient or generalizable rule-in performance for PJI, with low positive predictive values. Consequently, the authors recommend against using these thresholds as standalone criteria and advocate for a multimodal diagnostic approach.
This is one of 33,000+ journals available on OSLR. Try it free for 14 days.
Free 14-day trial. 33,000+ journals. Cancel anytime.

More from Clinical orthopaedics and related research
View all →Jun 11, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Is Neighborhood Socioeconomic Deprivation Associated With Outcomes Following Primary THA and TKA? A Systematic Review Utilizing the Area Deprivation Index
Jun 10, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Is Higher Surgeon Volume Associated With Lower Complication and Revision Risk After Distal Radius Fracture Surgery? A Population-based Cohort Study of 13,389 Patients
Jun 5, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Do Perineural Dexamethasone and Dexmedetomidine Improve Analgesia and Inflammatory Response After Lumbar Spine Surgery?
Jun 5, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Preoperative Shoulder Stiffness Was Accompanied by Distinct Supraspinatus Tendon Inflammatory Signatures but Not Inferior Long-term Outcomes After Rotator Cuff Repair
Jun 4, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Diabetes Is Associated With Higher Odds of Junctional Complications and More Reoperations After Adult Spinal Deformity Surgery: A Propensity-matched Study
Jun 3, 2026 · Clinical orthopaedics and related research
Is Robotic-assisted THA Associated With Decreased Risk of All-cause Revision or Revision for Dislocation? An Analysis of the American Joint Replacement Registry
More in Orthopaedic Surgery
View all →Sep 23, 2026 · The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
Diagnostic Performance and Clinical Outcomes of Intraoperative Neuromonitoring in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Comprehensive Analysis of 5,206 Patients
Sep 23, 2026 · Journal of orthopaedic trauma
Ceftriaxone versus cefazolin plus gentamicin for antibiotic prophylaxis in Gustilo-Anderson type III open lower extremity fractures
Sep 23, 2026 · The Journal of bone and joint surgery. American volume
Extra-Articular Malunions and Nonunions of the Scapular Body and Neck: A Comparison of Functional Outcomes Before and After Reconstruction
Sep 23, 2026 · The New England journal of medicine
Effect of Screening with Multicancer Early-Detection Test on Late-Stage Cancer Diagnosis
Sep 23, 2026 · Journal of orthopaedic trauma
Pre-Reduction Position of Posterior Wall Fragment is Associated with Intra-Articular Displacement
Sep 23, 2026 · Journal of orthopaedic trauma
Cerclage for Fracture Reduction is Not Associated with Nonunion in Vancouver B or C Periprosthetic Femur Fractures with Stable Implants: A Multicenter Retrospective Study
"Oslr has become part of my weekly routine on my day off. The clinical relevance of the summaries is outstanding — I'd rate it 9/10. Being able to consume research hands-free is a huge advantage for busy physicians."
Dr. Jennifer Thompson
Portland, OR


