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Virus infection and knee injury
P Driscoll1, R Venner, G B Clements
1Accident and Emergency Department, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, Scotland.
Archives of Emergency Medicine
|September 1, 1987
Summary
Coxsackie B virus infections are common in the general population, complicating the diagnosis of knee swelling. Many patients with knee swelling, especially after injury, show serological evidence of Coxsackie B virus.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Immunology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Coxsackie B virus (CBV) is a common enterovirus.
- Knee swelling can have various etiologies, including infectious causes.
- Serological testing is used to detect past or present viral infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of serological evidence of virus infection in patients with knee swelling.
- To compare findings in patients with knee swelling to age/sex-matched controls.
- To evaluate the significance of Coxsackie B virus neutralization titers in diagnosing knee swelling.
Main Methods:
- Serological testing for virus infection was performed.
- 31 consecutive patients with knee swelling were studied.
- Patients were compared with age/sex-matched controls.
Main Results:
- 42% of the control group showed evidence of recent or past Coxsackie B virus infection.
- Eight of 12 patients with knee swelling and a history of twisting injury had serological evidence of Coxsackie B virus infection.
- One patient with knee swelling and a history of twisting injury had evidence of a current adenovirus infection.
Conclusions:
- High prevalence of Coxsackie B virus antibodies in the general population necessitates caution when interpreting neutralization titers in patients with knee swelling.
- Coxsackie B virus may play a role in knee swelling, particularly in cases with a history of twisting injury.
- Further investigation is needed to establish a causal link between viral infections and knee swelling.