Diagnostic Utility of Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and C-Reactive Protein in Osteomyelitis of the Foot in Persons Without Diabetes

Easton C. Ryan, Junho Ahn, Dane K. Wukich, Paul J. Kim, Javier La Fontaine, Lawrence A. Lavery

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Scopus citations

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the diagnostic value of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)and C-reactive protein (CRP)levels in differentiating foot osteomyelitis (OM)from soft tissue infection (STI)in persons without diabetes. We evaluated 102 patients in a retrospective cohort study of nondiabetic patients admitted to our institution with OM (n = 51)and with STI (n = 51). Patient diagnosis was determined through bone culture and/or histopathology for OM and magnetic resonance scan and/or single-photon emission computed tomography for STI. Cutoffs for ESR and CRP to predict OM as identified by receiver operating characteristic were 45.5 mm/h and 3.45 mg/dL, respectively. The ESR cutoff demonstrated a sensitivity and specificity of 49% and 79%, while the values for CRP were 45% and 71%, respectively. The combined sensitivity and specificity for ESR and CRP were 33% and 84%. The positive and negative predictive values were 68% and 60% for ESR and 61% and 56% for CRP, respectively. In conclusion, ESR and CRP demonstrate poor sensitivity and specificity for detecting OM in the nondiabetic foot. These markers have little diagnostic utility in the nondiabetic foot.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)484-488
Number of pages5
JournalJournal of Foot and Ankle Surgery
Volume58
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2019

Keywords

  • 2
  • biomarkers
  • foot infection

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Surgery
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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