Table 2.

Strategies and associated costs for the diagnosis of PJI in knees and hips

Strategy	Knees					Hips
	Visit	Sequence	Purpose	CPT® code	Costs (USD)	Visit	Sequence	Purpose	CPT® code	Costs (USD)
Screening with ESR/CRP and arthrodesis in positive cases	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75
	1	Blood test (ESR/CRP)	Screening		96	1	Blood test (ESR/CRP)	Screening		96
	2	Consultation	Evaluation	99212	75	2	Consultation	Evaluation	99212	75
	2	Arthrocentesis	Rule out infection	20610	175	2	Arthrocentesis under fluoroscopy	Rule out infection	77002	200
	3	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75	3	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75
		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495
		Total			991		Total			1016
Simultaneous serum markers and arthrodesis	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75
	1	Blood test (ESR/CRP)	Screening		96	1	Blood test (ESR/CRP)	Screening		96
	1	Arthrocentesis	Rule out infection	20610	175	1	Arthrocentesis under fluoroscopy	Rule out infection	77002	200
	2	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75	2	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75
		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495
		Total			916		Total			941
Immediate arthrodesis	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75	1	Consultation	First evaluation	99212	75
	1	Arthrocentesis	Rule out infection	20610	175	1	Arthrocentesis under fluoroscopy	Rule out infection	77002	200
	2	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75	2	Consultation	Establish diagnosis	99212	75
		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495		Requested tests: cell count and differential, aerobic culture, anaerobic culture, fungal culture			495
		Total			820		Total			845

PJI = periprosthetic joint infection; CPT^® = Current Procedural Terminology; ESR = erythrocyte sedimentation rate; CRP = C-reactive protein.