C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR) Trends following Total Hip and Knee Arthroplasties in an Indian Population – A Prospective Study

• Main Authors: Krishna A, Garg S, Gupta S, Bansal H
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Malaysian Orthopaedic Association 2021-07-01
• Series: Malaysian Orthopaedic Journal
• Subjects: esr; crp; total hip arthroplasty; total knee arthroplasty; indian population
• Online Access: https://www.morthoj.org/2021/v15n2/CRP-ESR-indian.pdf
• ISSN: 1985-2533; 2232-111X

INTRODUCTION: To evaluate the trends of C-reactive protein (CRP) and Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the first three weeks after uncomplicated total hip (THR) and total knee (TKR) arthroplasty/replacement in the Indian population and to compare it with available literature. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 90 patients were enrolled for this prospective study, of which 30 were unilateral THR, 30 were unilateral TKR (U/L TKR) and 30 were simultaneous bilateral TKR (B/L TKR). Serum CRP and ESR were measured on the day before surgery and postoperatively on day 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 7th, 12th, and at the end of 3rd week. RESULTS: CRP showed a peak at day 2nd with normalisation to pre-operative value by the end of 3rd week. While ESR showed a peak on day 3rd and continued to remain elevated even at end of 3rd week post-operatively. Both mean CRP and ESR values were higher in THR patients followed by in B/L TKR and then in U/L TKR patients. CONCLUSION: CRP persists to be the best acute phase reactant in the early post-operative phase with a relatively typical pattern as compared to ESR. CRP values peak at postoperative day 2nd and then show a gradual decline. However, its normalisation to pre-operative baseline values may vary among different groups of population.