Biomarkers for diagnosis of post-operative replacement joint infection
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identification of biomarkers in synovial fluid for diagnosis of periprosthetic infection
IRAS ID
212569
Contact name
Anthony Freemont
Contact email
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 31 days
Research summary
Arthroplasty (joint replacement) is a common and life changing procedure with relatively few side effects. However one- post-replacement infection - is a devastating complication that impacts on the patient and the economy. Although only occurring in 1-2% of arthroplasties, because approximately 160,000 procedures are performed in England and Wales each year, the number of cases of infection is a significant clinical problem. Post-replacement infection is difficult to diagnose, although there have been some promising results reported using cellular and molecular analysis of fluid from the joint (synovial fluid). Having a reliable, evaluated and validated biomarker generated for use widely in a clinical setting as soon as suspicions of infection have been raised would have a major impact on patient management, removing the need for a biopsy mid-surgery and uncertainty on going into surgery (whether a 1 stage or 2 stage procedure is required), prevent unnecessary surgery and improve prosthesis survival. This proposal will perform innovative new analysis to identify protein biomarkers from synovial fluid to definitively stratify patients into those with infection and those without.
REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 2
REC reference
16/ES/0134
Date of REC Opinion
14 Nov 2016
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion