Description
In this presentation, Dr. Iain McNamara introduces himself as an orthopedic surgeon at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and discusses a research project evaluating a lateral flow calprotectin test for diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections (PJI). He highlights the funding from Lyfstone and acknowledges contributions from the NNUH and UEA teams. The test, which is not used for routine clinical purposes, promises to address the need for better diagnostics in PJI cases. Dr. McNamara describes calprotectin as a biomarker similar to the well-known alpha defensin and details its significance, stating that it is abundantly present in neutrophils and relevant to conditions like inflammatory bowel disease. He explains the methodology behind the study, including sample collection from patients undergoing surgery and how these samples are analyzed against established Modified MSIS criteria. The results indicate a sensitivity of around 75% and a negative predictive value of 85%, reflecting potential reliability in ruling out infections. He discusses the nuances behind false positive and false negative results, emphasizing the variability in outcomes among hip and knee surgeries. Ultimately, Dr. McNamara concludes that while the calprotectin test may offer substantial insights, it should not replace a comprehensive diagnostic approach in determining PJI.
DOI: 10.1302/3114-221613