Table 3.
Sensitivity and specificity of conventional radiographs reported by other authors and in the current series
| Infections analyzed | Cases with / without disease | Sensitivity (95% CI) | Specificity (95% CI) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Al-Sheikh (1985) [17] | Chronic orthopedic, with and without implants | 10 / 12 | 60% (28–86%) | 76% (36–89%) |
| Tumeh, (1987) [18] | Chronic osteomyelitis after fracture, infection or surgery (excl. Joint prosthesis) | 35 / 69 | 37% (21–55%) | 84% (73–92%) |
| Whalen (1991) [19] | Spinal | 9 / 2 | 78% (40–96%) | 100% (16–100%) |
| Malcius (2009) [20] | Acute hematogenic, pediatric | 156 / 27 | 16% (10–23%) (early) | 96% (78–100%) (early) |
| Current series | Internal fixation devices | 116 / 305 | RLa: 16% (10–24%) | RLa: 91% (87–94%) |
| PRa: 12% (7–19%) | PRa: 95% (92–97%) |
aRL Radiolucent line, PR Periosteal reaction