Total knee replacement infection after 9 years.

I had both knees replaced about 10 years ago. I developed an infection In my right knee about 6 years later. I had cellulitis in my chin and the infection traveled to my knee. My doctor told me that sometimes an infection in one place (my chin) will travel to places where there is an artificial part...in this case my right knee. It started hurting about 2 weeks after the cellulitis and my knee was hot, red, and swollen. The first time I went to the ER they gave me pain meds. I followed through by seeing my surgeon several day later. At this point he put me on an antibiotic and was simply watching it. By 2 weeks it was so swollen and painful I could hardly stand it.
I went in to see the doctor and he removed some fluid and sent it for testing. I received a phone call from his office several hours later telling me to go to the hospital and check in, they had a room for me. They said he would be surgically removing the infected tissue, etc. They called it “debride and irrigate” the area. This was surgery #1. I woke up with a “soft immobilizer ” which kept me from bending my knee. I was also on IV antibiotics. I stayed in the hospital several days and the moved to rehab. I was on antibiotics for several months. I recovered and things were fine.
#2 Surgery- About 5 months later I fell in the garage. I whacked my knee, broke 3 ribs, and broke 3 vertebrae above where I had titanium rods in my Lumbar spine. Boy, I was a mess and in terrible pain. Back to the hospital....the fall caused the infection in my knee to kick up again. As my luck would have it I had MRSA. Apparently minute pieces (cells) of the infection can linger on the artificial parts. So all the hardware in my knee was removed. A cement block saturated with antibiotics was placed in that area and once more I was on antibiotics. Before I left the hospital I had a PICC line inserted and for several months I administered the antibiotics through the PICC line. It must have been about 6 months before Infectious Diseases cleared me for surgery #3 to give me new hardware.
At this point I was turned over to a Reconstruction Specialist. He put in my new hardware. And I was still on antibiotics...he said most likely I would need to take them forever. I had another PICC line and more antibiotics again. This time the brace was an immobilizer that went from ankle to the highest possible area of my thigh. My incision was 27 inches! After 3 months I got to remove the brace.
I was doing great except my kneecap seemed to be off center a bit. Within a month or so, my kneecap worked it’s way almost to the side of my leg. So surgery #4 was done to move my kneecap over and “tied” in place. Back to the killer brace. Passed go and the brace came off. It wasn’t long before my kneecap started moving around to the side. So...
You guessed it, Surgery #5! My own tendon was shot. My doctor said it was like elastic that have been stretched too far and lost it’s elasticity. This time I had a bone graft, a new patella, and a new tendon that connected to what was left high in my thigh. I was doing great, getting around fairly well while wear my brace that allowed no bending. I also developed another infection, but it was quickly attacked by more antibiotics.
I know you will find this unbelievable but there was Surgery #6! The bone graft started to separate so he went back in and used larger screws and wrapped wire around it so it wouldn’t separate. I am now about 2 months post surgery from the last surgery. I have to wear the brace for another 3 months-making 6 in total. Two weeks ago I fell but no damage to my knee! My back is a different story.
But after all this covering about 3 years, I can see the light at the end of this tunnel. I am taking Minocycline, maybe forever and another antibiotic for the small infection I had at the end. I have that lovely 27 inch incision scar but it is funny what really matters. I don’t care what my leg looks like. I just want to be able to walk, drive, and enjoy life. I think I am close to doing those things again. Long trip but I am still positive and look forward to living again. Sometimes I cannot believe my own story. What I have discovered it that there are so many nice and caring people out there. Male, female, every age, everyone stops to help me through a door or in and out of a chair, etc. it gives me hope for the world. And I so appreciate my group of family and friends who have done so much to help keep me going. I have been fortunate indeed.

I too got an infection in my left TKR 2 years after surgery. The infection did not present with any pain or swelling in the knee. One day I became confused and disoriented, then unconscious, I was rushed to the ER and diagnosed with sepsis. The doctor told my wife if she did not call the paramedics when she did I would have been dead in a couple of hours. I presented with renal, respiratory and heart failure and I was on a ventilator for 3 weeks, flat lined twice. The surgeon removed the knee hardware and put in two spacers. I spent 2 months in the hospital, had a second surgery to clean out the area and replace the spacers. The surgery left me with a 10 cm by 6 cm open wound. I am currently on a Wound Vac to hopefully heal the wound from the inside out. I am on antibiotic infusion balls 3 times a day for 6 weeks. The surgeon doesn't know if the knee can be replaced.

This experience has been a nightmare for me and my family. We are thinking of taking legal action? Has anyone taken legal action?

Mike M. Port Charlotte, FL

mgm15...
What happened to you is mortifying to me. So you did not have any pain or swelling in your knee but you were incredibly ill. This concerns me because in 2018 I had a knee replacement and I have been having a lot of burning in my knee lately. This makes me wonder if I should see the orthopedist about this. I don't think that we are told enough about what the ramifications can be from TKR surgery.

I am so sorry that you have had to go through this nightmare and I hope that your wound heals very quickly.

Katrina123

Gosh. So sorry to hear - must be so very disappointing and painful. I wish you success with the new procedures.
Question: in your opinion, did you have a good surgeon? a good hospital? I have had 2 TKRs 2015 and 2018 and so far all is well and I play racquet sport so far with no real trouble. One surgeon said take antibiotics for LIFE the other said just 2 years. I plan to be a LIFEer. And I always seem to have a lot of dental procedures. Do you think age contributes to your situation? I am 78. In general, I dislike basing things on age, but it is an important factor. Not only is there age bias in the general population, but I also wonder if Doctors are affected by it?

Hello @jlflynn123 and welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. I am so sorry to read about the difficulties your husband has had with his surgery and recovery.

Where are things at with his knee and his pain now?

Gosh. So sorry to hear - must be so very disappointing and painful. I wish you success with the new procedures.
Question: in your opinion, did you have a good surgeon? a good hospital? I have had 2 TKRs 2015 and 2018 and so far all is well and I play racquet sport so far with no real trouble. One surgeon said take antibiotics for LIFE the other said just 2 years. I plan to be a LIFEer. And I always seem to have a lot of dental procedures. Do you think age contributes to your situation? I am 78. In general, I dislike basing things on age, but it is an important factor. Not only is there age bias in the general population, but I also wonder if Doctors are affected by it?