목적: 인공관절 치환술 후 4주 이내의 급성 감염에서 측정된 C-반응성 단백(C-reactive protein, CRP)의 변화 양상을, 감염이 없었던 인공관절 환자군과 비교하여 차이점을 분석하고자 하였다. 대상 및 방법: 하지 인공관절 치환술 후 4주 이내에 발생한 급성 술 후 감염 환자 33예(고관절: 26예, 슬관절: 7예)를 대상으로 하여, CRP를 측정하여 같은 기간 감염이 없었던 환자군 50예(고관절 25예, 슬관절 25예)의 CRP 변화 양상과 비교하고 분석하였다. 결과: 비감염군에서는 술 후 2-3일째 CRP의 급격한 상승 후 수술 3주째까지 지속적인 감소 추세를 나타내지만, 심부 감염군에서는 술 후 13일경, 천부 감염군에서는 술 후 10일경에 CRP의 상승이 나타나는 bimodal curve를 나타내었다. 결론: 인공관절 치환술 후 CRP가 재상승하는 양상(bimodal pattern)인 경우 급성 술 후 감염을 의심하여 적극적인 조기 검사 및 치료를 통해 효과적인 치료를 할 수 있었다.
Purpose: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been shown to be useful in the diagnosis of periprosthetic infection. This study analyzed the serial CRP measurements in patients with acute postoperative infection by comparing with the serial CRP measurements in patients without postoperative infection. Materials and Methods: From 2004 to 2009, 33 patients with acute postoperative infection developed within 4 weeks of surgery were enrolled including 26 cases of hip arthroplasty and 7 cases of total knee arthroplasty. We measured the serial CRP levels in the groups with both deep infection and superficial infection. The CRP measurements in the group without postoperative infection were also analyzed based on the changing pattern of CRP. Results: In the non-infected group, CRP level sharply increased in 2-3 days postoperatively and it showed a continuing downward pattern till the third postoperative week. However, a bimodal curve pattern was obtained in the groups with both deep and superficial infection. The group with deep infection showed a second increase in CRP level around the 13th postoperative day and the group with superficial infection showed a second increase in CRP level around the 10th postoperative day. Conclusion: If there are bimodal patterns of CRP after arthroplasty, acute postoperative infections can be suspected. We can treat them effectively without delay by detection of bimodal increase in CRP.