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Open research questions in Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

120 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 483 Orthopedic Infections and Treatments papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • Emerging evidence suggests that these poor outcomes are largely attributed to the intricate host–pathogen interplay within the bone microenvironment, yet the underlying immunological mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

    Osteomyelitis: Epidemiology, Classification, Pathophysiology, Clinical Features, Diagnosis, and Management · 2026 · DOI

  • Its relationship with dental infections and the necessity of preoperative dental screening remains debated.

    Multi-institutional observational study on the relationship between oral infection focus and surgical site infection in artificial arthroplasty and the clinical significance of tooth extraction: An analysis using propensity score matching · 2025 · DOI

  • Traditional methods have limitations, and although serum PCT shows promise as a diagnostic marker, its efficacy remains controversial, warranting further studies.

    Comparative analysis of CRP and PCT as biomarkers for early diagnosis of pediatric septic arthritis: superior performance of CRP · 2025 · DOI

  • Unfortunately, due to the lack of data in the literature, there is no consensus about guidelines on the diagnosis and treatment of FRIs.

    Early Management for Fracture-Related Infection: A Literature Review · 2024 · DOI

  • Currently, clinical studies on evaluating the influence of previous antimicrobial therapy on positivity rate of mNGS in PJIs are rarely reported.

    Will previous antimicrobial therapy reduce the positivity rate of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in periprosthetic joint infections? A clinical study · 2024 · DOI

  • Introduction Accurate identification of the etiology of orthopedic infection is very important for correct and timely clinical management, but it has been poorly studied.

    Multiplexed bacterial pathogen detection and clinical characteristics of orthopedic infection in hospitalized patients · 2024 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans, a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, obligate anaerobic bacterium of the Oscillospiraceae family, has not been previously reported in human infections.

    Ruthenibacterium lactatiformans isolated from a human blood culture: a first report · 2024 · DOI

  • Importance: Despite increased use of antibiotic-loaded bone cement (ALBC) in joint arthroplasty over recent decades, current evidence for prophylactic use of ALBC to reduce risk of periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is insufficient.

    Periprosthetic Joint Infection After Total Knee Arthroplasty With or Without Antibiotic Bone Cement · 2024 · DOI

  • The high prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms in periprosthetic infections after proximal femoral fracture surgery. The need for reconsidering perioperative prophylaxis due to the mismatch between current protocols and the actual microbial landscape. The high comorbidity burden and advanced age of the patient population.

    Microbiological Profile of Periprosthetic Infections Following Femoral Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • small sample size of 20 patients, - retrospective observational study design, - limited to patients aged 70 years or older with a Charlson Comorbidity Index score of 4 or higher

    Microbiological Profile of Periprosthetic Infections Following Femoral Fracture: A Retrospective Analysis · 2026 · DOI

  • Introduction The optimal timing for reimplantation following two-stage exchange for chronic periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) remains elusive and subjective.

    THE CRP/ALBUMIN RATIO AS A PROGNOSTIC INDICATOR TO GUIDE THE TIMING OF REIMPLANTATION IN PROSTHETIC JOINT INFECTION: A MULTICENTRE ANALYSIS · 2026 · DOI

  • The study is retrospective and may be subject to biases. The sample size is limited to 199 patients. The study only includes patients from a single academic institution.

    Can we identify which patients are likely to have septic arthritis with borderline synovial fluid cell counts? · 2026 · DOI

  • Clavicular osteomyelitis is a rare condition, and early diagnosis is challenging. There is a need for awareness and understanding of this condition to improve diagnosis and treatment.

    Acute Clavicular Osteomyelitis: A Rare Site of Bone Infection in Children · 2026 · DOI

  • The patient had advanced disease, which may have limited the outcomes. Long-term follow-up of the patient was not completed. The study is a single case report, which may not be generalizable to other patients.

    Pediatric Tuberculous Osteomyelitis of the Hip Managed with an Antibiotic-Loaded Cement Spacer Fabricated Using a 3D-Printed Mold: A Case Report · 2026 · DOI

  • The limited literature on the use of 3D-printed molds for fabricating customized antibiotic-loaded cement spacers in pediatric patients. The need for more studies on the outcomes of this technique in pediatric patients with hip infections.

    Pediatric Tuberculous Osteomyelitis of the Hip Managed with an Antibiotic-Loaded Cement Spacer Fabricated Using a 3D-Printed Mold: A Case Report · 2026 · DOI

  • Although povidone-iodine (PVP-I) is widely used as an intraoperative antiseptic, its effectiveness against biofilms at different stages of development remains unclear.

    Bactericidal effects of diluted povidone-iodine on Staphylococcus epidermidis at different stages of biofilm formation on titanium surfaces · 2026 · DOI

  • The inability of animals to communicate their discomfort restricts the early diagnosis and treatment of osteomyelitis lameness. The development of new antimicrobial compounds and drug delivery to combat osteomyelitis requires an appropriate animal model mimicking the nature of the disease.

    Osteomyelitis related lameness across animal species: pathophysiology, etiology, epidemiology and experimental model approaches · 2026 · DOI

  • The study aims to address the gap in knowledge about the pattern of microorganisms isolated from synovial fluid in patients with chronic orthopedic infection.

    Analyzing pattern of microorganisms isolated from synovial fluid in patients with chronic orthopedic infection of large joints of extremities · 2026 · DOI

  • The development of effective treatments for bone infections. The need to overcome the limitations of long-term antibiotic therapy. The challenge of promoting bone regeneration while reducing the risk of complications.

    Osteogenic and antibacterial effects of double antibiotic-loaded microspheres · 2026 · DOI

  • The evaluation of the in vivo effects of the microspheres. The comparison of the effects of the microspheres to those of traditional antibiotic therapy. The development of new formulations and combinations of antibiotics for use in the microspheres.

    Osteogenic and antibacterial effects of double antibiotic-loaded microspheres · 2026 · DOI

  • One of the challenges is the lack of high-quality evidence to support the use of extended antibiotic prophylaxis in unselected populations. Another challenge is the potential increase in antimicrobial resistance with prolonged prophylaxis.

    Extended antibiotic prophylaxis in primary total knee arthroplasty: A narrative review of current evidence and controversies · 2026 · DOI

  • the literature is sparse and of questionable strength, - study populations reported higher than contemporary rates of infection, - surrogate data do not cover the gaps, - limited evidence for the current recommendations

    Extended antibiotic prophylaxis in primary total knee arthroplasty: A narrative review of current evidence and controversies · 2026 · DOI

  • There is a need to identify the clinical and microbiological features of septic arthritis in adult patients. There is a need to provide insights into the treatment outcomes of septic arthritis in adult patients.

    Clinical and Microbiological Features of Adult Patients With Septic Arthritis of Native Joints at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital: A 10-Year Retrospective Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The reasons for this observation remain unclear and cannot be determined from the available data. Nevertheless, this observation highlights the potential for regional variation in the microbiology of SA and warrants further investigation in larger studies specifically examining risk factors and pathogen distribution among intravenous drug users.

    Clinical and Microbiological Features of Adult Patients With Septic Arthritis of Native Joints at Sultan Qaboos University Hospital: A 10-Year Retrospective Study · 2026 · DOI

  • The study faced challenges in terms of the heterogeneity of outcome definitions. The study faced challenges in terms of the limited representation of prospective studies and RCTs.

    Defining Success And Failure In Prosthetic Joint Infections: A Meta-Epidemiologic Study Towards A Core Outcome Set · 2026 · DOI

Most-cited papers in Orthopedic Infections and Treatments

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120 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 483 Orthopedic Infections and Treatments papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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