Study of Testosterone Levels and Skin Bacteria in Adults Undergoing Shoulder Replacement Surgery

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying patients undergoing shoulder arthroplasty to understand the relationship between testosterone levels and the presence of Cutibacterium bacteria on the skin and in surgical wounds. The study has two phases Phase 1 focuses on measuring testosterone and bacterial levels before and during surgery, while Phase 2 aims to see if preoperative testosterone levels predict the risk of shoulder periprosthetic joint infection PJI and bacterial load during revision surgeries. In Phase 1, 51 patients having elective shoulder arthroplasty give blood samples for serum testosterone, free testosterone, and sex hormone binding globulin tests. Skin swabs are taken at the clinic pre-surgery, immediately before surgery, and from the incision during surgery, and all cultures are observed for 21 days. Phase 2 involves additional blood testing for testosterone before surgery and collects various culture samples during surgery to analyze their relationship with testosterone levels and infection risk. Participants provide demographic and health information and may respond to questions about testosterone supplements. Researchers monitor bacterial cultures from skin and tissue samples alongside blood hormone levels. The study tracks outcomes such as serum testosterone and bacterial culture results up to 20 years after surgery, including deep tissue culture bacterial loads after revision surgeries. Some participants may also join long-term follow-up studies with additional self-reported outcomes.

Testosterone Levels and Cutibacterium