Are joint infections higher in IBD after joint replacement surgery?

Investigators examined the risk of periprosthetic joint infections after total joint arthroplasty among patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

In a study published in Arthroplasty Today, the investigators used data from an all-payer claims database to better understand the relationship between IBD and periprosthetic joint infections among more than 80,000 participants with or without Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis who underwent primary elective total joint arthroplasty between 2016 and 2023.

While the likelihood of developing a periprosthetic joint infection was comparable among the patients with IBD, those with ulcerative colitis and the controls, the investigators found that the participants with Crohn’s disease had a higher risk of the infection compared with the controls.

The findings may help establish IBD as a risk factor for post-total joint replacement periprosthetic joint infections. The investigators emphasized the potential need for risk stratification prior to the procedure in this patient population. They hope to conduct further research to illuminate the risk differences between Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Read more: Arthroplasty Today

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