Medical Imaging and Laboratory Analysis of Diagnostic Accuracy in 107 Consecutive Hospitalized Patients With Diabetic Foot Osteomyelitis and Partial Foot Amputations

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 433-443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Crystal L. Ramanujam ◽  
David Han ◽  
Thomas Zgonis

The primary aim of our study was to compare the preoperative diagnostic accuracy of plain radiographic findings with the accuracy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings for diabetic foot osteomyelitis in hospitalized patients who underwent first-time partial foot amputations with confirmed histopathological specimens positive for osteomyelitis. Second, it was desired to determine whether certain variables within the initial clinical presentation and preoperative laboratory findings were associated with more accurate diagnosis of diabetic foot osteomyelitis in this study population. Finally, it was desired to determine the most common bacterial organisms found in bone and soft-tissue cultures taken intraoperatively and to determine how often the same organism was found in both. After applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria to the initial 329 patients identified through chart review, the final sample size for further analysis was n =107. In this study, after adjusting for the effects of covariates such as age, erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein, plain radiographs seemed to have statistically more significant power than MRI in predicting and diagnosing diabetic foot osteomyelitis. In addition, higher ESR values were confirmed to predict a higher chance of positive diagnosis for diabetic foot osteomyelitis. Furthermore, the presence of positive bacterial identification from intraoperative bone cultures did not always indicate true osteomyelitis on histopathological examination. Levels of Evidence: Level II: Diagnostic study

2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karim Gariani ◽  
Dan Lebowitz ◽  
Benjamin Kressmann ◽  
Joanna Gariani ◽  
Ilker Uçkay

Objective: Radiographic imaging is an important diagnostic tool in diabetic foot osteomyelitis (DFO). It is unknown whether DFO cases diagnosed with conventional X-ray versus positive Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) differ regarding epidemiology and treatment outcome. Theoretically, signs of inflammation on MRI without bone lesions might be easier to treat and predominate among selected clinical variables. Methods: Our clinical pathway for diabetic foot infections discourages the use of MRI for the diagnosis of DFO. We compared the epidemiology and therapy of non-amputated DFO with positive features on conventional X-ray, MRI, or both. Radiology specialists interpreted the images. The intraoperative aspect of bone during amputation and the results of bone cultures were considered gold standard for DFO diagnosis. Results: We prospectively followed 390 DFO episodes in 186 adult patients for a median of 2.9 years and performed 318 conventional X-rays (median costs 100 Swiss Francs; 100 US$) and 47 (47/390; 12%) MRI scans (median 800 Swiss Francs; 800US$). Among them, 18 episodes were associated with positive MRI findings but lacked bone lesions on X-ray. After debridement, the median duration of systemic antibiotics was 28 days for MRI-only episodes and 30 days for X-ray-positive cases (Wilcoxon-ranksum-test; p=0.26). The corresponding median numbers of surgical debridements were 1 and 1; and remission was achieved in 25% and 27%, respectively. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, MRI-only episodes did not alter remission rate (odds ratio 0.5, 95%CI 0.1-5.2). Conclusions: According to our clinical pathway, DFO episodes with positive MRI findings only did not differ epidemiologically and did not influence the choice of therapy nor remission rate.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noah Reich ◽  
Christopher F. Lowe ◽  
David Puddicombe ◽  
Nancy Matic ◽  
Jesse Greiner ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundCOVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has caused the greatest public health emergency of our time. Accurate laboratory detection of the virus is critical in order to contain the spread. Although real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) has been the cornerstone of laboratory diagnosis, there have been conflicting reports on the diagnostic accuracy of this method.MethodsA retrospective review was performed on all hospitalized patients tested for SARS-CoV-2 (at St. Pauls Hospital in Vancouver, BC) from March 13 – April 12, 2020. Diagnostic accuracy of initial PCR on nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs was determined against a composite reference standard which included a clinical assessment of the likelihood of COVID-19 by medical experts, initial and repeat PCR, and post-hoc serological testing.ResultsA total of 323 patients were included in the study, 33 (10.2%) tested positive and 290 (89.8%) tested negative by initial PCR. Patients testing positive were more likely to exhibit features of cough (66.7% vs 39.3%), shortness of breath (63.6% vs 35.9%), fever (72.7% vs 27.6%), radiographic findings (83.3% vs 39.6%) and severe outcomes including ICU admission (24.2% vs 9.7%) and mortality (21.2% vs 6.2%) compared to patients testing negative. Serology was performed on 90 patients and correlation between serology and PCR was 98.9%. There were 90 patients included in the composite reference standard. Compared to the composite reference standard, initial PCR had sensitivity of 94.7% (95% CI 74.0 to 99.9%), specificity of 100% (95% CI 94.9 to 100%), positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI 81.5 to 100%) and a negative predictive value of 98.6% (95% CI 92.5 to 100%).DiscussionOur study showed high sensitivity of PCR on NP swab specimens when compared to composite reference standard in hospitalized patients. High correlation of PCR with serological testing further increased confidence in the diagnostic reliability of properly collected NP swabs.


2021 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 204-208
Author(s):  
Aroa Tardáguila-García ◽  
Irene Sanz-Corbalán ◽  
Esther García-Morales ◽  
Yolanda García-Álvarez ◽  
Raúl J. Molines-Barroso ◽  
...  

1996 ◽  
Vol 35 (04) ◽  
pp. 116-121 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. E Fueger ◽  
M. Vejda ◽  
R. M. Aigner

Summary Aim: To prevent orthopedic sequelae in acute hematogenous pyogenic osteomyelitis (AHPO) of infants early diagnosis, recognition of recurrence and effective therapy is needed. This retrospective study of 47 infants with bacteriologically confirmed AHPO concerned with an analysis of the diagnostic value of systemic serum parameters compared to bone scintigraphy (BSC). Methods: AHPO was characterized initially and during the course of disease by clinical findings, C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), total and differential white blood cell (WBC) count, BSC, and plain radiography. Results: CRP was the most effective serum parameter for follow- up of disease. The first sign of BSC to signal adequate response to antibiotic treatment was the decrease or normalization of hyperperfusion. Escape from therapy or poor prognosis, even when the serum parameters were normalized, was signaled by the recurrence of focal hyperperfusion and the persistent or increasing local uptake ratios on the 3-h-image over 6 weeks during a course of antibiotic treatment. Conclusion: Antibiotic treatment masks the clinical presentation, and the radiographic findings, causes non-characteristic laboratory findings, but do not prevent the scintigraphic visualization; BSC and serum parameters used in the right completion are the most successful and efficient modalities for follow-up of AHPO. Maintenance of antibiotic therapy should be done until BSC findings have reverted to normal.


1994 ◽  
Vol 30 (5) ◽  
pp. 929
Author(s):  
Heung Sik Kang ◽  
Yong Kyu Yoon ◽  
Dae Young Yoon ◽  
Jung Suk Sim ◽  
Chu Wan Kirn

2017 ◽  
Vol 07 (02) ◽  
pp. 115-120 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiffany Liu ◽  
Chia Wu ◽  
David Steinberg ◽  
David Bozentka ◽  
L. Levin ◽  
...  

Background Obtaining wrist radiographs prior to surgeon evaluation may be wasteful for patients ultimately diagnosed with de Quervain tendinopathy (DQT). Questions/Purpose Our primary question was whether radiographs directly influence treatment of patients presenting with DQT. A secondary question was whether radiographs influence the frequency of injection and surgical release between cohorts with and without radiographs evaluated within the same practice. Patients and Methods Patients diagnosed with DQT by fellowship-trained hand surgeons at an urban academic medical center were identified retrospectively. Basic demographics and radiographic findings were tabulated. Clinical records were studied to determine whether radiographic findings corroborated history or physical examination findings, and whether management was directly influenced by radiographic findings. Frequencies of treatment with injection and surgery were separately tabulated and compared between cohorts with and without radiographs. Results We included 181 patients (189 wrists), with no differences in demographics between the 58% (110 wrists) with and 42% (79 wrists) without radiographs. Fifty (45%) of imaged wrists demonstrated one or more abnormalities; however, even for the 13 (12%) with corroborating history and physical examination findings, wrist radiography did not directly influence a change in management for any patient in this series. No difference was observed in rates of injection or surgical release either upon initial presentation, or at most recent documented follow-up, between those with and without radiographs. No differences in frequency, types, or total number of additional simultaneous surgical procedures were observed for those treated surgically. Conclusion Wrist radiography does not influence management of patients presenting DQT. Level of Evidence This is a level III, diagnostic study.


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