oysteroyster
new member
- Joined
- Jan 29, 2023
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- 37
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United Kingdom
Hi all. Looking to get a bit more information as to the current situation and prognosis of my 65 year old mother-in-law, who has recently undergone phase one of a two stage revision.
Her original knee replacement was unsuccessful and resulted in an infection. She has now had the new knee removed and antibiotic cement spacers inserted - as well as receiving a daily drip - to clear the infection. They have told her that she will then likely receive a new knee in the autumn. Her knee is arthritic and the infection has caused some degree of bone loss. To complicate matters further, she is also quite significantly overweight, and has already had her other knee replaced.
Due to several factors - a currently very stretched British healthcare system, poor communication from doctors, and my MiL probably not asking as many questions as she should - she hasn’t really understood the process or its ramifications. She was originally told this procedure was to clear the infection and that it was a temporary solution, but she was also told temporary for some people is keeping the cement spacers for many years, so she has viewed the procedure as much the same as a regular knee replacement and expected to attend physio to regain the bend and relatively normal mobility. She has now been told that this is certainly not the case and movement should be kept to a minimum. This has come as quite a shock to her and potentially renders her housebound for months to come. She may not be in great physical shape but she’s far from a little old lady!
Whilst she will be seeing a specialist again next week, could somebody please advise as to how much mobility one should expect to have during the cement spacer phase and what the likely outcome might be in her situation? Should she be walking with a stick, and if so, how far? Or should she not be walking at all? Will she likely ever walk unsupported ever again? Is there a risk of amputation/fusion if the bone degrades further? From what I’ve read, the antibiotics tend to last up to around 12 weeks, so why are they talking about replacing with a new knee in 9 months - that’s a long wait when you’re stuck at home.
We have so many questions and it would be great if somebody could explain the current situation a little more clearly and realistically what the future holds.
Thanks!
Her original knee replacement was unsuccessful and resulted in an infection. She has now had the new knee removed and antibiotic cement spacers inserted - as well as receiving a daily drip - to clear the infection. They have told her that she will then likely receive a new knee in the autumn. Her knee is arthritic and the infection has caused some degree of bone loss. To complicate matters further, she is also quite significantly overweight, and has already had her other knee replaced.
Due to several factors - a currently very stretched British healthcare system, poor communication from doctors, and my MiL probably not asking as many questions as she should - she hasn’t really understood the process or its ramifications. She was originally told this procedure was to clear the infection and that it was a temporary solution, but she was also told temporary for some people is keeping the cement spacers for many years, so she has viewed the procedure as much the same as a regular knee replacement and expected to attend physio to regain the bend and relatively normal mobility. She has now been told that this is certainly not the case and movement should be kept to a minimum. This has come as quite a shock to her and potentially renders her housebound for months to come. She may not be in great physical shape but she’s far from a little old lady!
Whilst she will be seeing a specialist again next week, could somebody please advise as to how much mobility one should expect to have during the cement spacer phase and what the likely outcome might be in her situation? Should she be walking with a stick, and if so, how far? Or should she not be walking at all? Will she likely ever walk unsupported ever again? Is there a risk of amputation/fusion if the bone degrades further? From what I’ve read, the antibiotics tend to last up to around 12 weeks, so why are they talking about replacing with a new knee in 9 months - that’s a long wait when you’re stuck at home.
We have so many questions and it would be great if somebody could explain the current situation a little more clearly and realistically what the future holds.
Thanks!
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