DIAGNOSIS OF INFECTION BY FROZEN-SECTION DURING REVISION ARTHROPLASTY

We assessed the efficacy of intraoperative frozen-section histology in detecting infection in failed arthroplasties in 106 hips and knees. W e found inflammatory changes consistent with infection (an average of one or more neutrophil polymorphs or plasma cells per high-power field in several samples) in 18 cases; there was a significant growth on ba cterial culture in 20 cases, Compared with the bacterial cultures, the frozen sections provided two false-negative results and three false-p ositive results (sensitivity, 90%; specificity, 96%; and accuracy, 95% ). The positive predictive value was 88%, the negative value, 98%. The se results support the inclusion of intra-operative frozen-section his tology in any protocol for revision arthroplasty for loose components.