RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Preoperative Acute Inflammatory Markers as Predictors for Postoperative Complications in Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty JF Ochsner Journal JO Ochsner J FD O. P. Jindal Global University SP 481 OP 485 VO 16 IS 4 A1 Gustavo Godoy A1 Gonzalo Sumarriva A1 J. Lockwood Ochsner, Jr. A1 George Chimento A1 Dana Schmucker A1 Vinod Dasa A1 Mark Meyer YR 2016 UL http://www.ochsnerjournal.org/content/16/4/481.abstract AB Background: C-reactive protein (CRP) has been suggested as an independent risk factor for cardiovascular pathology in the nonsurgical setting. While postoperative CRP and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) have an established role in aiding the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infections, some authors suggest a link between preoperative CRP and postoperative complications in patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 351 patients who underwent unilateral primary total knee arthroplasty by a single surgeon during a 28-month period (January 2013 through April 2015). Patient medical records were reviewed for the following complications occurring within 90 days postoperatively: myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, pulmonary embolism, wound infection, acute renal failure, and reoperation.Results: We found no statistically significant link between postoperative complications and preoperative CRP levels (P=0.5005) or ESR levels (P=0.1610).Conclusion: The results of this study do not support the routine inclusion of CRP and ESR analysis as part of the preoperative evaluation for elective total knee arthroplasty.