Corticosteroid Injections Within 2 Weeks After Knee Arthroscopy Are Associated with Increased Infection Risk
Hackensack University Medical Center research pinpoints higher-risk injection treatment windows for septic knee or surgical-site infection
Hackensack University Medical Center research published in Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery demonstrated a higher risk for post-operative infection when corticosteroid injections (CSIs) are administered within two weeks of arthroscopy.
The study aimed to quantify the risk of 90-day postoperative infection after arthroscopy, stratified by specific time intervals of CSIs postoperatively (0-2 weeks, 2-4 weeks, 4-6 weeks, and 6-8 weeks), using a large, all-payer database.
A national, all-payer database was queried. In the primary and secondary analyses, the main outcome was infection at 90 days. Infection was defined by documentation of a septic knee or surgical-site infection according to International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision and Tenth Revision codes, and Current Procedural Terminology codes.
In the multivariable regression, the odds ratio (OR) of postoperative infection at 90 days was greater in the cohorts receiving CSIs within 0 to 2 weeks (OR, 3.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.85-5.92; P less than .001) and 2 to 4 weeks (OR, 2.72; 95% confidence interval, 1.57-4.71; P=.003) than in the control group. On comparison of CSIs administered within 0 to 2 weeks and CSis administered within 2 to 4 weeks, researchers observed a greater odds of postoperative infection (OR, 2.50) at 90 days after arthroscopy.
The Level III, retrospective, comparative, prognosis study concluded that CSIs given within 2 weeks after knee arthroscopy increase the risk of postoperative infection the most, whereas CSis given within 4 weeks increase the risk but to a lesser degree.
Featured Researcher
Dr. Yair Kissin
Yair David Kissin, M.D., is board-certified in orthopedic surgery and sports medicine, serving as vice chairman of the department of orthopedic surgery at Hackensack University Medical Center. He specializes in conditions of the knee and is recognized for his clinical research in robotic knee replacement.
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