Hello - I am 15 weeks out now from this procedure. Thankfully no infections. I felt I had to do this surgery as I could not walk very well. There is no way I can know if you could avoid it somehow. I did get a second opinion and he also recommended it.
I am still having pain and swelling but the knee does feel more stable. I am thinking this will resolve this month - that would be 20 weeks. As they do not cut bone or muscle for this operation, I would think it would heal sooner. But there are possible reasons it might take longer - they removed scar tissue, I am older, the muscles need time to adapt to the thicker spacer. Stay tuned for an update if you - or anyone else - is interested.