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. 2025 May 9;15(1):16223.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-00760-6.

Synovial fluid viscosity with synovial fluid cell count, valuable diagnostic marker of prosthetic joint infections

Samo Roškar  1   2 , René Mihalič  1   2 , Anže Mihelič  1 , Rihard Trebše  3   4
Affiliations

Synovial fluid viscosity with synovial fluid cell count, valuable diagnostic marker of prosthetic joint infections

Samo Roškar et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

In the absence of standard criteria for prosthetic joint infections (PJI), several diagnostic modalities have been proposed mostly concentrating on novel biochemical markers. The physical chemistry markers received scarce attention. Synovial fluid (SF) viscosity could be considered as marker for PJI, however, its diagnostic value of PJI remains unknown. Our study aimed to determine the potential of SF viscosity as a diagnostic marker of PJI and compare it to SF cell count with differential (CCD). We prospectively analysed 123 SF samples (58 septic and 65 aseptic) for viscosity and CCD of SF obtained during hip and knee revision procedures. The diagnosis of PJI based on EBJIS criteria. The viscosity cut-off for PJI was calculated and the diagnostic power was compared to CCD. The mean SF viscosity in the PJI group was 8.5 ± 0.4 mPa s and 103.2 ± 18.8 mPa s in the aseptic group (p < 0.05). SF viscosity achieved 100% sensitivity and 85.3% specificity, with AUC 0.832 (95% CI 0.739, 0.925). Combination of SF viscosity and CCD achieved AUC 0.951 (95% CI 0.919, 0.987). SF viscosity is more sensitive but slightly less specific in diagnosing PJI than SF CCD. Best diagnostic value is achieved combining SF viscosity with CCD in detection of PJI.

Keywords: Prosthetic joint infections; Synovial fluid cell count; Synovial fluid viscosity; Total joint arthroplasty.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethics declarations: The study was approved by institutional ethical board ID No. 08-2023. All procedures were performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the Valdoltra Orthopaedic Hospital institutional ethical committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flowchart diagram showing the number of patients excluded based on each criterion. rTHA revision total hip arthroplasty, rTKA revision total knee arthroplasty, PJI periprosthetic joint infection.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Schematic presentation of synovial fluid analysis for viscosity.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Viscometer calibration curve with standard glycerol solutions.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
(A) Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve for synovial fluid (SF) viscosity. (B) ROC curve for SF cell count with differential (CCD). (C) ROC curve for SF viscosity and CCD.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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