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Synovial-fluid analysis is used to diagnose infection in native joints, but no criteria exist for such analysis in prosthetic joints. The most common causes of prosthetic-joint failure are aseptic loosening and infection; distinguishing between these two causes is important because they are managed differently. Researchers recently analyzed test results from 133 patients who had synovial-fluid aspiration before total knee arthroplasty revision at Mayo Clinic from 1998 through 2003. The diagnosis of prosthetic-joint infection was based on the presence of one or more of the following: visible synovial purulence, a sinus tract communicating with the prosthesis, growth of the same microorganism in two or more synovial or tissue cultures, or acu…