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Repeated bacterial infection after knee prosthesis, antibiotics

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My 83 year old mother had a artificial knee put in eight years ago. About a year ago, her body started to reject it, and she developed infections in her knee area. The doctor put her on a long term antibiotic called Cephalexin to control the infection from spreading... It seemed to work fine without much side effects... however now a year later, the Cephalexin is not working and the infection is back and now she is on Bactrim and Cipro. My question is, we are now faced with removing the artificial knee. I don't want to replace the knee with another prosthesis, I don't think her body would take more than one surgery. I would like to know if she would still be able to walk without a knee, she walks with a walker right now and hope she will still be able to do so, after the knee is removed.

Category: Orthopedic Surgeon

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Dr. Mukesh Tiwari
Category: Spine Surgeon
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 29 Doctors Online

Expert:  Dr. Mukesh Tiwari
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Thanks for choosing doctorspring.com

I have read your query with diligence.

It looks from your details that your mother is facing with problem of infected total knee replacement.

There are only few options after failed TKR or complication after TKR. ( Total knee replacement)

In your case implant should be removed as these are infected.If implants remain there then they will aggravate the infection.These infected implants acts as reservoir of infection in such situation.

After removal of implant your doctor will put antibiotic impregnated spacer to fill the void at knee.

After control of infection they will put new implant.

If you are not happy with revision & placement of new implant then only choice is to fuse the knee.In that she may have some limitation like loss of bending function at knee,difficulty in walking on stairs,etc.

Hope these all will help you.

With best wishes.

Dr. Mukesh Tiwari
Category: Spine Surgeon
Experience: 
Fellowship - Khandaka Hospital, Jaipur
Residency - MS, Rabindranath Tagore Medical College, Udaipur, 2000
Medical School, Internship - MBBS, SMS Medical College, Jaipur, 1995
Dr. Mukesh Tiwari and 4 other Medical Specialists are ready to help you

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