What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip

I had to get a hip revision because of an infection. I had a spacer for 3 months between surgeries. I was never able to walk and get in and out of bed on my own. I was 57 at the time and fortunately during the pandemic. My wife and I were both able to work from home and she was able to meet my needs. No sugar coating, my first month was excruciatingly painful. I had a negative pressure wound therapy pump, and when wound care came to replace my sponge, I had to turn onto my non-injured side. The pain of moving my spacer that way was just horrible. I took my meds to time with the visit, but the side effects of the narcotics to me were almost as bad as the pain. As I tapered off the meds, the spacer became more bearable. Just about after the 6 week mark the pain became a discomfort that I tolerated until my hip replacement surgery. At that point I was at least able to transfer in and out of bed, and on my own to a commode. I could "hop" for a bit with a walker, but I was in a wheelchair and moving around on my own OK.

Flash forward about 18 months and my second hip replacement was also found to be infected. I have now had my spacer for 8 months. For the first 3 months I was on an antibiotic, which after most recent test indicate, may have eradicated the infection. My mobility was close to none for at least 3 weeks after the surgery. After that PT helped me transfer, and I've been managing with a wheelchair and walker ever since. I am able to transfer on my own, but my wife helps me get out of bed for safety, since one wrong move with the spacer will cause pain.

The surgery to remove the second implant caused damage to my femur, and my surgeon, who had flawlessly performed three hip replacements for me, admitted with humility that he is sending me out of my HMO network to another surgeon who has experience in reconstructing, an oncologist-orthopedist. I'm in line for a consultation and procedure.

Only speaking from my experience, but it seems like patient mobility depends on so many things. I'm overweight, but was active and enjoyed walking and cycling, which I think helped me bounce back. I do some leg strengthening exercises that PT showed me as much as I can bear with upper body, "wheelchair" and sit-and-be-fit exercises and weights. I find I'm relying heavily on my arms to get around, so it's worth it to build up those guns!

I would say to prepare your home for accessibility, if not just for a wheelchair, that at least safe mobility with a walker. Going up or down steps for me has been out of the question with the spacer.

Iam 55 yrs old my name is Tanya I needed a new hip the pain was getting worse i had no cartridge left was bone to bone one day I woke up in horrible pain and couldn't l couldn't walk . Went 3 different hospital s sent home accused of drug seeking or just saying I had arthritis. I started hallucinating we tried another hospital finally they did blood saw I had horrible infection ended being over half my hip in my spine and blood. Long story short after sending me home after fusing bone in my neck and rinsing and cleaning infection out 2 months later I was discharge d with in a week horrible pain again went back to hospital they now found infection in my bone in my hip so May 17 22 they took my hip out rep l aced it with antibotic spacer . So now iam in a wheel chair . Allgeric to pencisilun hospital gave me silun family almost died had 3 blood transfusions. Doctors said I need to go 3 or 4 months infection free I can get a new hip. I was taking antibotic morning and at night for over 6 months well 2 months ago horrible pain again couldn't barely move infection was back they had to take spacer out had 5 surgeries to clean and rinse my hip area out had wound vac once again was in hospital for 6 weeks. So the last 8 weeks been living without anything where the hip should be just an empty space. Sent me home with a Pic line I administer antibotic s my self every day until Dec 6. Well surprise iam back in the hospital again there gonna drain some fluid tomorrow and see if the infection is back. Iam so tired of this iam at a different hospital this time maybe they know how to treat this. Iam so tired of this since March 22 I have spent over 6 months in the hospital. I probably will never get a new hip . Iam wondering if there's anyone living without a hip and nothing in that space . Any comment s or suggestion please share with me. Still don't know how the infection was caused.

I assume an infectious disease doctor is monitoring your case. I had horrible pain after my first hip replacement and went to the ER 4 times before my 2nd surgery. That led to infections and a 3rd hip replacement. On the 4th surgery they put in an antibiotic spacer and I have had that for a year and a half. I use a cane or walker but they tell me I will be able to walk normally eventually and that the spacer is one that should last for 30 years. I had 8 pints of blood and was on a PIC line with 2 antibiotic IVs a day and 2 wound vacs for 5 months. I was pretty unhappy with the whole process. I had 3 infections in my hip and they didn't think I could be cured. Then the Wound Care center took over and in the next 4 months my incisions healed and the infections cleared up. I kept on oral antibiotics for those 4 months too.
I don't understand them leaving you with no hip. An antibiotic spacer is better than no hip and you would have some mobility. I was in rehab for 5 months so I was only out of bed for an hour a day. According to my doctors it takes 2 years to make up for the limited mobility and I am beginning to see my walking slightly improving now. Fingers crossed.

I’ve had four THR and now I have an antibiotic spacer and on a walker and wheelchair and probably not gonna go through with another surgery because the infection ate away most of the bone. I was just wondering if anyone else has had one and if so what’s your outcome

I’m a 37 year old male that has had 3 hip scopes, 3 HO removals, 2 debrievments, stem cell Theropy, soasas tendon release, THR, and am now in the middle of a 2stage hip revision due to infection. Nov 17 2022 I had the implant removed and a spacer put in. Since then I can not lift my leg up, nor if I am standing I can not move the leg forward without swinging my hips. I’m set to have a new hip put in on March 1st. Obviously with my surgical history alone plus MSSA that I have a lot of scare tissue around my hip. Any idea why I can’t life my leg since the spacer was put in. Is that normal? And if this hip dosnt take or fails in the future, my surgeon said that the next step is to take the leg from the hip, Or a Girdlestone. I know I’m out of options but is there any other ideas out there. Thank you in advance

Hi @gillette30, you're asking all the right questions and there are several members who have similar stories to yours, which is why I moved your post to this existing discussion:
– What kind of mobility can I expect with an antibiotic spacer in my hip https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/what-kind-of-mobility-can-i-expect-with-an-antibiotic-spacer-in-my-hip/

You can read through previous posts (there's a lot) and connect with members like @mrfish @crgentry @bbreckenridge @coonhound @lahipster @sharronp79 @tanya7 @cathy19 @amallasch and more.

The hip spacer did limit mobility for some members. It must be hard hearing that you're close to being out of options. I really hope the upcoming surgery is successful for you.

If there are other options, I'd like to know them too. From reading this forum, it seems like everyone's experiences with spacers are different. One forum member even says he has returned to work with a spacer. I could have if work from home was still an option for me.
For the most part I can "walk" for about 10 steps or so with a walker, or at least until it's just too painful. The pain is manageable now without meds, but every time I move my affected leg it's a different type of discomfort.
I finally have an appointment with a orthopedist specializing in reconstruction, since my femur is fractured and damaged from the last prosthesis removal. If I'm eligible for a new implant, glorious! If not, it looks like I'll be hipless. It seems like this experience also varies by the individual. Stay tuned.

Wishing you the best of luck. And I hope that it works out. So far the only 2 things I have been told is that the lifters may have ruptured during surgery, and the other is weakness. You can see the mussels trying to work, just no result.

Too late I had the prothesis removed

I have had 8 surgeries for my hip in the last 17 months. 1st was a hip revision followed by 2 interior pop outs. Excruciatingly painful. 2nd surgery was to redo what he had just put in. I forgot to mention I have a lot of bone loss at the top of the femur so some things were wired in. In May they did a debridement of the incision as it was not looking good. In July they found I had an infection, not Staph,in the wound and was put on IV antibiotics. Developed an allergic reaction to the antibiotics and had to go oral. In November I still had 2 holes in the incision but they were finally closing. After Thanksgiving my husband noticed a new hole had opened and back to Dr. MRI AND CAT SCAN showed a pocket of fluid had developed. In for surgery to clean everything. Sample of hip fluid showed no infection. 10 days after surgery my thigh and hip started having great pain. Went to ER and the holes broke open with disgusting fluid. I had STAPH. My Dr. Decided to go the heavy duty antibiotic route instead of taking everything out. For Christmas into the 2nd week of January I was very sick from the antibiotics. Finally got picc line removed but was on oral. Infection numbers came down. In June I started having pain in hip thigh again. Blood work showed that inflammation was 200. Went in for surgery and had everything removed and spacer put in. Was in pain always with the spacer. Last week went to Dr. To plan next step as was ending another picc line. Made plans to have hip replacement done in late. September. On the way home getting out car the spacer popped out. Back to ER and another surgery to redo spacer. No sign of infection and Dr will take me off antibiotics in 2 weeks. 2 weeks later do an aspiration. If all cultures come back negative he will do real replacement. After 3 pop outs I am now scared to death to do anything for fear of hip pop out. Sorry this is long but glad I found this forum.