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Compare pathways

Treatment options for this acute presentation, laid side by side on course length and literature-range success. Educational decision-support — the clinician decides.

Assessment carried through

INSUFFICIENT DATAmajor not met · minor 0/3 · acute

Enter CRP and ESR values to score the minor criteria — gather more before deciding.

Some inputs are missing — the pathways below are shown for the acute presentation, but confirm the criteria before deciding.

Shortest course

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The relevant pathway with the smallest stated week count. Course length is one trade-off — not the only one.

Local-delivery irrigation

~1 wk + recovery

Highest success

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The relevant pathway with the highest midpoint of its literature success range. Ranges are broad and organism- and patient-dependent.

Local-delivery irrigation

80–95% · ~1 wk + recovery

Pathways, ranked
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Pathways are filtered to those surfaced for a acute presentation, then ordered by success midpoint — except for acute cases, where DAIR is floated first as the canonical acute-first option even though its success range is lower.

  1. Debridement, antibiotics + implant retention (DAIR)

    Lowest surgical burden; best in well-fixed implants with a short symptom duration.

    Surfaced first

    Course length

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    Typical treatment duration from the literature. Shorter is less burden but is only appropriate for the right picture.

    6–12 wk antibiotics

    Success (literature range)

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    A broad, literature-based band — not a per-patient prediction. Actual outcomes depend on the organism, host, and implant.

    60–80%

  2. Local-delivery irrigation

    Adjunct concentrating therapy at the site; emerging evidence, vendor-neutral.

    Course length

    ?
    Typical treatment duration from the literature. Shorter is less burden but is only appropriate for the right picture.

    ~1 wk + recovery

    Success (literature range)

    ?
    A broad, literature-based band — not a per-patient prediction. Actual outcomes depend on the organism, host, and implant.

    80–95%

  3. One-stage exchange

    Single operation; relies on a known, susceptible organism.

    Course length

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    Typical treatment duration from the literature. Shorter is less burden but is only appropriate for the right picture.

    ~12 wk

    Success (literature range)

    ?
    A broad, literature-based band — not a per-patient prediction. Actual outcomes depend on the organism, host, and implant.

    75–90%

Other options to weigh (1)
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These pathways are typically surfaced for the chronic presentation, not this one — shown here so the full menu is visible. Routing is a starting point; the clinician decides.
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