Septic arthritis of the knee: Presentation of a novel irrigation-suction system tested in a cadaver study
2011

Novel Irrigation-Suction System for Knee Joint Infections

Sample size: 6 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Ateschrang Atesch, Albrecht Dirk, Schröter Steffen, Hirt Bernhard, Weise Kuno, Dolderer Jürgen H

Primary Institution: Eberhard Karls University Tübingen

Hypothesis

Can a novel irrigation-suction system improve postoperative treatment for bacterial arthritis of the knee compared to conventional methods?

Conclusion

The novel irrigation-suction system is more effective than conventional continuous suction irrigation for postoperative knee joint irrigation.

Supporting Evidence

  • After ten minutes, the novel irrigation-suction system showed an average extinction of 0.4 compared to 0.8 for continuous suction irrigation.
  • After twenty minutes, the novel system achieved an average extinction of 0.001, indicating clear irrigation fluid, while the conventional method had an extinction of 0.3.

Takeaway

A new machine that cleans the knee after surgery works better than the old way of doing it.

Methodology

The study compared a novel automated irrigation-suction system to conventional continuous suction irrigation in six knee joints filled with methylene blue stain.

Limitations

The study was conducted on cadaver joints, and further animal studies are needed to verify the effects in vivo.

Statistical Information

P-Value

<0.001

Confidence Interval

95%

Statistical Significance

p<0.001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2474-12-180

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