title: Prosthetic Joint Infections in Patients Undergoing Carpal Tunnel Release.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Little information is available regarding the rate of prosthetic joint infections (PJIs) in patients undergoing carpal tunnel release (CTR) without antibiotic prophylaxis. Hand surgeons should be aware of patients' history of arthroplasty.
  
  
  METHODS
  All patients who underwent CTR at our institution between 2012 and 2014 were identified and their charts were reviewed to identify those who had a history of total hip, knee, and/or shoulder arthroplasty. Further chart review consisted of identifying a history of PJI, use of perioperative antibiotics, and surgeon awareness of prior arthroplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two hundred seventy-five CTR surgeries were performed in patients who had previously undergone total joint arthroplasty (TJA). There were no PJIs in any group of patients (P = 0.01). Hand surgeon awareness of the presence of an arthroplasty history had no discernable effect on the choice to use antibiotics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was a 0% rate of PJI in our series of patients with a history of TJA who underwent CTR. Overall hand surgeon awareness of TJA status was poor or poorly documented. Routine prophylactic antibiotics may not be indicated in patients undergoing CTR, even with the presence of a prosthetic joint.
  
  
  METHODS
  IV.
authors.affiliation: From the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Wenjing
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeng
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Paul
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kemp
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Elfar
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000009:adverse effects; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000009:adverse effects; D000072228:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Shoulder / Q000009:adverse effects; D002349:Carpal Tunnel Syndrome / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies