PhysAssist
Elite Member
- Joined
- Aug 22, 2011
- Messages
- 2,635
- Tractor
- Kubota B2320
Some of you may remember that for approximately the past 16 weeks, I have been out of work because my left knee replacement became infected just before my birthday this year.
The treatment was my ortho surgeon taking it out on my birthday, and leaving me with an antibiotic spacer and strict instructions to use crutches and use only toe-touching with my left foot to avoid unnecessary wear to the antibiotic spacer and possibly fracturing (breaking) one of the bones. I also received 8 weeks of IV antiobiotics at home through a PICC.
Well, this past Wednesday, on the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I went back in and got a new knee! I did very well post-operatively and came home yesterday (Friday the 13th!!)despite ending up with 2 surgical complications:
1) While the doctor was drilling through my lower femur, (which was and is crooked because of having had bone cancer treated at age 19 y/o, with surgical removal, bone grafting, and then complicated by a fracture at the site), he inadvertently went out through the side of the lower femur causing a fracture.
and 2) Once he was able to get the drill bit (way) up the femoral canal, it came unattached from the drill extension and ended up stuck there just below my knee joint.
He says that for the perforation I have to stay on limited weight-bearing for six weeks until the bone has fully recovered and healed in order to reduce the risk of fracture.
He also says that the retained drill bit would only pose a problem for me if some day I fracture my hip, or need a hip replacement because of wearing out the joint.
The whole situation is ironic because my original ortho MD (who saved my leg and life in 1979) referred me to my current ortho for a laser alignment knee replacement BECAUSE of the deformed and closed off femur canal.
What can I do but keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep my sense of humor given the situation...
Thanks for reading,
Thomas
View attachment 336926
The treatment was my ortho surgeon taking it out on my birthday, and leaving me with an antibiotic spacer and strict instructions to use crutches and use only toe-touching with my left foot to avoid unnecessary wear to the antibiotic spacer and possibly fracturing (breaking) one of the bones. I also received 8 weeks of IV antiobiotics at home through a PICC.
Well, this past Wednesday, on the anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy, I went back in and got a new knee! I did very well post-operatively and came home yesterday (Friday the 13th!!)despite ending up with 2 surgical complications:
1) While the doctor was drilling through my lower femur, (which was and is crooked because of having had bone cancer treated at age 19 y/o, with surgical removal, bone grafting, and then complicated by a fracture at the site), he inadvertently went out through the side of the lower femur causing a fracture.
and 2) Once he was able to get the drill bit (way) up the femoral canal, it came unattached from the drill extension and ended up stuck there just below my knee joint.
He says that for the perforation I have to stay on limited weight-bearing for six weeks until the bone has fully recovered and healed in order to reduce the risk of fracture.
He also says that the retained drill bit would only pose a problem for me if some day I fracture my hip, or need a hip replacement because of wearing out the joint.
The whole situation is ironic because my original ortho MD (who saved my leg and life in 1979) referred me to my current ortho for a laser alignment knee replacement BECAUSE of the deformed and closed off femur canal.
What can I do but keep putting one foot in front of the other and keep my sense of humor given the situation...
Thanks for reading,
Thomas
View attachment 336926
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