Role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C reactive protein, intraoperative frozen section alone and their combination in diagnosis of hip periprosthetic infection: A comparative study

Objective To assess the role of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), C reactive protein (CRP), intraoperative frozen section alone and their combination in diagnosis of hip periprosthetic infection. Methods Clinical data about 116 patients who underwent hip revision surgery in our hospital in 2010 were retrospectively analyzed. Their hip periprosthetic infection was diagnosed with ESR, CRP, intra-operative frozen section alone and their combination. It was diagnosed as prosthetic infection when any two of them were positive and as aseptic loosening when any two of them were negative, and compared with the diagnosis according to the "gold standard". Results The diagnosis rate of ESR, CRP, intra-operative frozen section and their combination was 76.39%, 81.94%, 87.5% and 97.22%, respectively, for hip periprosthetic infection, with a specificity of 82.69%, 92.31%, 94.23%, 98.07%, respectively, and an accuracy of 79.03%, 86.29%, 90.32%, 97.58%, respectively. Conclusion Combined ESR, CRP and intra-operative frozen section can significantly improve the diagnosis of hip peri-prosthetic infection.