Knee Staph Infection

[Karen]

I had a TKR of my right knee in May 2008. A month later I had horrible pain in my back and slight swelling in my right knee. It turned out that I had a staph infection in my back and knee. They cleaned out my knee and put me on a picc line for 8 weeks followed by oral clindamyacin. My back cleared up, but I continued having knee problems. I went back on a picc line. Then in December they removed the replacement and put in a cement spacer (with picc line) for 3 months. I received the new TKR in April 2009 (picc line) and have to take clindamyacin 300mg daily for the rest of my life. I see an infectious physician every 4-6 months and have regular bloodwork done to check my sed rate. Fortunately, I have minimal pain and can just about bend 90 degrees, but I can walk. When I went through all this, I did read that amputation was done at a last resort. Your friend should absolutely see an infectious physician. I don't know what kind of insurance he has, but I had a case manager and she was someone who helped direct me and checked to see if there was anything I needed on a regular basis. I wish you and your friend the best and my prayers are with the two of you.

[josh]

IM 25 years old and I hurt my knee at work. After getting it drained and two steroid injections, it got better for a week and then started hurting really bad and swelling. I went to another doctor and he immediately sent me for surgery to flush it out. I've been in the hospital for four days and it really hurts. I have a pic line in and im scared this will never heal im just really really scared I won't be able to have a normal life does anyone have any positive news about this? I wish you all luck, I know how bad this hurts and makes one feel.

[Mindy53]

Janice wrote:

Mindy, I am in Bham and have TKR scheduled at St. Vincents on 3/28. UAB is a good hospital for some things but I don't hear of a lot of people having their knee surgery there for some reason. I am using David Atkison who moved here from Bethesda. His creditials or impeccable. He has a great website but I don't remember off hand what it is. You could google him if interested. There are other doctors there that I absolutely would not use even though they are WELL known nationally.
Bibi 19, Staph can be very dangerous. It doesn't make since that a doctor would not treat it. You may want to get another opinion.

I just saw your comment-Janice--so glad I did. I will look up this doctor Atkison and see what he thinks. I had decided to contact the Hospital for Special Surgery in NY-I saw they have an excellent record for Orthopedic surgeries-# 1 in the nation. So before I make the final decision, I will contact your doctor.--Did your surgery turn ut okay?--I just am not looking forward to making all the the details for the ny trip-and recovery--Bham would be better-financially speaking also--thanks for your post

[shell]

Thomas wrote:

TKR 5/3/2010 with minimal issues. Did the rehab and went back to work in 6 weeks. 8/21 went to ER due to pain and swelling resulting in inability to walk. 8/22 arthroscopic irrigation of the knee was done and then on the 25th the spacer was replaced. After 6 weeks of vancomycin pic line twice a day I'm back to work and taking Doxycycline twice a day for 6 weeks then once a day for 6 more.
All this is very scary and the surgeon acts like it's all great. They will never take an x-ray of the area where the infection started.
Has anyone gone to a second doctor and had X-rays done to establish a baseline to monitor knee over long term? Was a second doc responsive / cooperative? The Ortho seems scared to death and he's in CYA mode. I'm not interested in anything, but survival and minimalizing the already bad situation.

11/12( hurting) I'm going through the same thing, The only thing is after three weeks I was taken off the antibiotic. I went 7-10 days before the doctor realized I was not on the drugs any more ( long story ) lots of finger pointing. Now 90+ days later every body's running for cover and I've not even done any thing. My knee is still hurting bad,bad and I'm at a loss. can any body,and I mean any body help.

[Peter]

Hi,
Had a TKR done on May 9th 2012.
Lots of swelling and operation incision would not heal due to a Staph infection.
Had Pic line and antibiotics for 27 days stay in hospital.
Followed by oral antibiotics at home.
Was treated by infectious disease doctor.
Tests done done last week indicate that infection has now gone.
Knee works well, but is still very swollen, but no pain.
Had both hips replaced 18 years ago, still good.
How long before the sweloling goes.

[Peter]

Hi, Forgot to add this to my last comment,.
At the time of my TKR I had an ingrowing and infected toenail and some Tinia .
Do you think this could have caused the Staph infection.

[Leon]

Did your teeth and gums hurt? Also have a rash on inside of repaired leg. Ideas???

[Samantha]

I am trying to fine out if anyone else has had the same problem I have had. I injured my foot in a pool. And two days later my knee popped and I wasn't able to walk. I went to a knee doctor and they told me it could be a tore in my knee and not to walk on it until they found out. Nothing showed up in X-ray or MRI So finally after spending 6 weeks on the couch not walking on my right leg. They finally decide to scope my knee to see what's going on. So I went for physical all my blood work came out fine. So I go in for surgery. I had a Staph Infection in my knee. And none my blood work showed anything I had no systoms of staph injection. I had picc line in for month, and I had to go Physical Therapy to learn how to walk again. I am still having pain today and its been 6 months and my knee still hurts. It hurts getting up in the morning and I still can't walk right. Has anyone had this happen?

[Betsy]

My husband had a knee replacement and 2 years later developed an infection in the knee. They went in an flushed the knee with antibiotic and then replaced the plastic covering of the replacement. He was then put on a PIC line for 6 weeks. After that, no infection was detected and he went on Doxycycline once a day for 6 months. The ID dr took him of the antibiotics recently and said that if the infection returned he would either need to stay on the antibiotics for the rest of his life or have the knee replacement removed, have a spacer put in and be on another PIC line for 6 weeks and then a new TKR after that. The ID doctor told him that he would be able to walk on the spacer but that his leg would be stiff until he had the new replacement. Well, low and behold the infection returned and I want to know if what the ID doctor stated about the spacer is this true? I thought the spacer would cause him to be pretty immobilized. He's seeing the orthopedic surgeon soon and will decide which course he will follow, either the antibiotics for life or another TKR(which sounds like it could be a big gamble). Any info provided regarding the spacer would be helpful. Thanks so much!

[wilma]

My first knee was Nov. 2011. My knee was very swollen and black and blue over the leg. 7-8 mo. later staph all this time. Took knee out spacer, pic lines, all antibotics. New knee replaced Nov. 22. Staph in bone so hurts constantly. Working with infectious disease doctor. On two strong pills daily. Dr. said we will be very known to each other for long time. Has anyone had in bone and got over hurting?