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What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip
Joint Replacements | Last Active: Jun 23, 2023 | Replies (279)Comment receiving replies
@mrfish A'll of my operations have been done via the posterior incision so I can't really say if anterior is easier or not. I haven't really had issues with that approach, although, because I have had sooo many surgeries the muscle in the side of my leg/butt is virtually gone which causes me to limp more. But I didn't really have an option lol
They never pinpointed the exact reasoning behind my reacurrant staph infections other than possibly not all the infection was completely gone out of my body when the replanted. Luckily when #4 got infected I went to Mayo clinic and they advised everything being removed and leaving nothing implanted for at least 1 year. That was a hard pill to swallow. A hanging hip is no fun and the recovery process is crazy. My surgeon also advised I try to go more than a year ...he said the longer you go without staph the better chances of a successful #5. Knowing that #5 would be the last one (I'm running out of good femur) (did I mention I'm only 35 lol this has been going on for 12 years ...all a result of an automobile accident) I wanted to do everything possible to make it a success. I made it 4.5 years without a hip or spacer !! It wasn't easy however I'm happy to say I recieved my hail Mary #5 hip June of 2016 and have had no infection (so far)!!!! I'm beyond happy although now the darn thing won't stay in place lol
I have dislocated #5 3 times now š so that's no fun...2 of the dislocations required surgery. Funny enough it just dislocated last weekend so I just got home from mayo where I had surgery to repair and change a few components ... Thankfully the recovery process isn't bad so I'm doing well.
My case is definitely rare and I draw a lot of attention from amazed orthopedists when I'm at Mayo lol I'm kind of a guinea pig and up to try anything new they have available to make this darn thing work lol
I really hope your surgery goes smooth... Do your pt exercises (even though I was resistant , I know they work lol)
If you have any more questions I am here!!
Lindsay with 5 hips lol
Replies to "@mrfish A'll of my operations have been done via the posterior incision so I can't really..."
Hi Lindsay, I am new to the group and just looking through some posts. I hope you are well and I do see that this post was some time ago. My husband is going through a similar issue as yours at the moment. So far, he's had the hip out for a period of 4 months, with now a further 3 months due to infection in his femur. Can you please give me some information on what life without a hip is like, as, at the moment, it looks like this may be a possibility for his future. He's had such a hard time over the last 10 years with recurring infections, I am hoping there's some light at the end of the tunnel.
Iām so sorry what youāve been through. Iāve had a spacer after remover of infectious hip, if place for 6 months. The plan was the doctor was going to put in a new hip, but suddenly recommended I keep the spacer if PT can help me walk again. Iām so overwhelmed at all the options, and all of the terrible things people have to go through. This has really affected my mental health also. Good luck to everyone!
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Wow, Iām impressed with your tenacity.
I am currently recovering from my fourth hip infection/replacement. During my recent February 5th revision surgery of my right hip, it was decided that all of the parts would be removed and the antiseptic spacer would be installed and there are no plans to replace the antiseptic spacer with a permanent device . We are all under the belief that the longer that I can go without another surgery, the better. Close monitoring of the hip via frequent x-rays will be in my immediate future.
God Bless
Any advice/suggestions would be appreciated.