Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026
Metacarpal Small Incision for Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Published on: April 5, 2024
Prosthetic Joint Infections in Patients Undergoing Carpal Tunnel Release
Wenjing Zeng1, Deborah Paul, Thomas Kemp
1From the Department of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
Introduction:
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.
Level Of Evidence:
IV.
