Diagnosis and Treatment of Periprosthetic Joint Infections - 2nd Volume

Dear Colleagues,

Periprosthetic joint infection represents a huge complication after total joint replacement which influences the patient's quality of life and mortality. Once the septic process occurs, the diagnosis and treatment need a multidisciplinary approach, including orthopedic surgeons, microbiologists, and infectious disease specialists. The scientific community's interest in new serum and synovial biomarkers and biosensors has recently increased, intending to increase the sensibility of diagnostic tests to identify patients affected by deep infections. Furthermore, the treatment approach includes the mechanical and chemical removal of all infected tissues associated with antibiotic administration. The joint prosthesis removal in one or two surgical stages is the gold standard technique, facing chronic infections. Although the one-stage approach has shown promising results at specific institutions, the two-stage protocol remains the most widely applied. The treatment in two stages comprises double debridement and a bone cement (PMMA) device, the objective of which is to facilitate the healing process from the infection locally and grant joint activity. The effort to intraoperatively identify infected tissue and contaminated implant and the use of 3D printing to customize mobile spacers represent future strategies to increase the efficacy as well as clinical and functional outcomes of surgical procedures.

This Special Issue will cover all aspects of the diagnostic and treatment approach, highlighting the new strategies, including the role of biological receptors, biosensors, biomarkers, organic dyes, and customization using 3D printing technologies, as well as their applications in the management of biofilm infections.

Dr. Giovanni Balato
Guest Editor

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