Hi,
Had my TKA this past January at 52. I’ve always been healthy and active. Within a month or two, the knee started swelling and remained so despite numerous drainings. The fluid was always bloody red. In just one draining, 130 ml was removed.

In July the fluid tested positive for Staphylococcus Salivarius and I was placed on an oral steroid for 10 days.

In August I tested negative for any infection including metal allergies but the swelling remained. The original surgeon reopened the knee, removed synovium and installed a plastic button behind the degraded knee cap. A week later it was just as swollen as before. He drained it and it was the same bloody fluid but it tested negative for infection.

This surgeon’s approach had always been “come back in 4-5 weeks and continue PT”. PT had been useless and my muscles had atrophied horribly because my knee was so swollen. The knee had also become very unstable.

One week ago I went to a new surgeon who immediately recognized there was an issue. Numerous tests were conducted and all were negative for infection but he was convinced it’s in there based on the long term swelling. He got me into surgery yesterday and removed the original implant and installed an antibiotic spacer. He said there was evidence of necrosis in the tissue. So far all tests he conducted for infection have been negative. I now have a pic line for antibiotics which I’ll be taught how to administer today. Hopefully the line will come out in 6 weeks. A new implant will be installed around 3 months.

The antibiotic joint is very noisy. My wife can hear it clearly when I move. It’s disturbing mentally and physically. I have a call into the surgeon to ask about that.

I feel your frustration and pain. I haven’t been able to my preferred activities (mountain biking, hiking and motorcycling) since last Fall and won’t be for the foreseeable future. I’m hopeful this new surgeon and his 30 years of experience are the answers to my problems.

Good luck and keep looking forward.