Posted 1/25/2007 6:33 AM (GMT 0)
Dear Erin and friends, My surgery date is February 7th. and when I went for my pre-op they called me the next day and told me that my sed rate was 40 and my c-reactive protein was 27.000.000.This the nurse coordinator tells them this is a red flag for infection. I have a history of cellulitis , severe enough to go into the hospital for weeks at a time and then come home with a porto-cath and visiting nurses.Anyway they are going ahead with the surgery and will open my leg take tissue samples to see what grows and we go from there. She said the doctor can usually tell just be looking if there is infection. In that case they take out the infected prosthesis and put a spacer filled with antibiotics in the space where my knee used to be. I will then have for approximetely 6-8wks. I.V.'s at home again. When the infection is completely cleared up I will have to go back to surgery to get my new knee put in. With that spacer I will only be able to go to the bathroom and back. I don't mind telling you that I am scared. I had bi-lateral knee replacements in 98 and this left knee is the one that loosened almost immediately. Erin or anyone else with knowledge of this, please give me some advice, opinions, or tell me if this is the protocol you have seen or have direct knowledge of. I appreciate any replies. Sincerely, Nicole