Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 02:38:57 GMT

My surgeon did not place a drain in my knee after replacement surgery and I developed a hematoma and infection, requiring a second surgery. This seems inappropriate to me. Isn't it commonly done? I am 3 months out and can only bend my knee 70 degrees. I can't help but feel that he mismanaged my surgery and contributed to it's failure by failing to place a drain. Am I wrong? Fortunately my insurer has approved my request for a new MD, which has me wondering if I'm right! Feeback would be appreciated!

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

TonyBrook — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 08:35:42 GMT

I believe that you are right. I have always heard of there needing to be a drain after most surgery, even if it is only in for a day. I think that the fact that your insurance did approve a new MD does also mean something. I'm sorry to hear that you are unhappy with your surgery and I hope that your knee gets better soon.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

monitor`d ? — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 15:44:00 GMT

WHO WAS THE SURGEON, AND WHERE ? More than likely your surgeon or another failed you.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:39:06 GMT

Michael Nielsen in Sacramento, CA.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 16:43:09 GMT

Thanks Tony. Down the road I may take legal action. I woke up this morning and noticed a strange new protrusion on the side of my knee- it looks like my patella (knee cap) moved/slipped out of alignment. What next??? This is getting ridiculous! Now it's even MORE important to get in to see the new MD! Again, thanks for your feedback and concern:-)

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

citrine1 — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:24:42 GMT

I've had two knee replacements. The procedure is very modern now and done through a small incision without a drain. What I had was not. The incision was about 8-10 long with a drain that came out in just a day or two. The infection you mentioned may be because germs got in through the incision and not because you didn't have a drain. As for the 70% range of motion. Working a lot with determination at PT will help you to reach 90 degrees. It does not happen over night. Perhaps water therapy will be of some assist. Even after you no longer have PT keep working to reach your goal as it will continue to bend if you keep working although slowly. I even ride a bike without a problem and I am in my 60's. In fact, it was the bike that helped me bend my knees. Your insurer gave you permission to change your doctor at YOUR REQUEST. Usually a request to change is granted as the patient is not satisified with current physician. It does not necessarily mean that the physician did not perform the surgery correctly. They listened to you and did as you asked. The physician is getting blame because you didn't like his method. However, you should have discussed this with him. Chances are he didn't do anything wrong. Not everyone responds the same way to any surgical procedure. I am not taking sides here. I just wanted you to see both sides of your issue without blaming anyone for it. Personally I call the procedure a miracle as I lived with knee problems and extreme pain with multiple injuries for over 50 years. The issue here should be: "Is your pain gone?" If it is you should be thanking the doctor not condemning him.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 16:13:59 GMT

Wow, you made a lot of assumptions that were dead wrong! I don't know anyone that's had a knee replacement with a small incision, for one. Mine is also about 10 inches long, and from my research the standard procedure is to place a drain. My knee has not moved because there is too much fibrotic tissue, a result primarily from having 2 consecutive surgeries, not a lack of effort on my part to move the knee. I've been in PT for months and used (as prescribed!) a dynasplint, which is quite painful. I saw the new MD yesterday- one who specializes in failed knees, and he says I need a complete revision, including the removal of the previous hardware, which he says is too large for me! I'm divorced and 55 and can't work with this knee- this is a major issue for me- I have a mortgage and I simply can't retire now for medical reasons. I found your response insulting, hurtful and WRONG!

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

TonyBrook — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 11:40:18 GMT

Hi kprn,

I read that you saw another MD yesterday. Did you ask him if there is anything that you do legally, regarding your previous doctor? Obviously if he told you that you need a complete revision, then he must know that your first two surgeries were not done right. I'm really sorry to hear that this has put you in a very difficult situation. Unfortunatly we can only move forward in life, so I hope that it wont be too much longer until you have everything under control with your knee. Sending you my best.

Tony

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 16:22:33 GMT

Thanks Tony:-) I didn't come right out and ask him- primarily because I know that doctors tend to cover each other. Until I get a better feel for him I'm going to avoid harsh comments so as not to alienate HIM. As frustrated and angry as I was with the first MD I also avoided any major confrontation- you don't want to piss off the person holding the knife! I did ask a lot of questions, though, and he had to know that I was not happy with outcomes. He had quite an ego. Anyway, so far I'm very confident in the new surgeon and although I dread having to go through all of this again, I'm going to work as hard as I can to maximize the benefit and hopefully be able to resume some normalcy. Down the line I may consider some kind of legal action. Thanks again for your concern and kind words:-)

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Mon, 25 May 2009 00:19:44 GMT

Hi, I'm also a total knee replacement with a subsequent infection. This is very serious stuff. Very serious. Please educate yourself with the aspects of infection on a joint first, before you make any decisions that can waste your time and not address the issue that is well known in orthopedics.

Look at this site:

http://www.totaljoints.info/treat_KNEE_infection.htm

1. Who is the manufacturer of your knee?

2. Does the manufacturer list your doctor as one they recommend?

3. How many knees has he replaced yearly and since when?

4. Ask the manufacturer for a list of those qualified for their device.

Go to Webmd.com and see the general process described on knee replacement.

Noted authorities in this country and recognized in the world, much agree that a once infected knee still has that bacteria in the bone (now) and must be identified for specific and direct treatment in the joint alone....for a period of time. Then more testing is done to confirm...then, it's in better shape for a "fix" or "redo", whatever applies. Most Doctors won't admit the seriousness of an infection like this as it leaves the patient almost without many options and few doctors specialize in fixing a previously infected knee. It's also not cheap...and the insurers don't want to pay the bill(s).....too bad.....get another doctor that is qualified with your knee.....ask the questions on specific treatment for your bone bacteria and then go from there.....willy nilly antibiotic pill taking is not the answer and won't buy any assurance from most of the educated Medical world.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Thu, 28 May 2009 22:11:30 GMT

Thanks Yankee. I've done a lot of the research you suggest and since my original post have seen a surgeon that specializes in failed TKR's. Without coming right out and acknowledging the errors made, he did say that he felt the wrong appliance was selected for my knee. He also said it was one of the worst knees he's ever seen- he said "you have had the worst possible outcome". I'm only 4 months out from the original surgery and they prefer to wait, but things have deteriorated to the point that I am in worse shape than ever and am back to almost complete bedrest with use of a walker when I am up. He's doing a blood workup as well, as I clearly am one that tends to "hyper-respond" in the formulation of fibrotic/scar tissue. It's a bleak outlook at best, but I am at least confident in the MD that I'm seeing now- he has an excellent reputation and is highly regarded in his field. To complicate things further I had a fall about a month ago that did extensive damage inside the knee. I had a CT last week and am waiting to hear the results. May I ask how your knee is? Are you going to have a revision? Since I've been researching all of this I've heard a lot of horror stories. I hope yours isn't one of them! Again, thanks for the feedback and support!

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:15:36 GMT

Lots to share here on the larger scale. I'm planning a trip that includes the West Coast on my bout to compile the concensus of the "way out" on the mess I have. What are the possiblities to meet up some place close to you, as I am mobile. Let me know. Thanks KPRN

Yank

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Sat, 30 May 2009 18:02:46 GMT

Some statistics for you KPRN, considering the gravity of the matter:

http://www.aaos.org/news/aaosnow/jun08/clinical11.asp

We need to talk if you can.

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 05:07:05 GMT

Hey KPRN....does that mean Knee Problem RN as in Nurse?

Horror stories abound in this, what I call a science fair project of solutions pertaining to the knee. My knee mfg touts of some soccer player that's out on the field doing Soooooo welllllllll! Well, I want to hear the OTHER SIDE of this story and count the many, WHO ARE IN A LIVING HELL, over this so called "technology" with fixing the knee.

The part that really riles me is when your surgeon screws up, or it all just plain goes bad......YOU GET DUMPED! Oh yeah...lots of stories on this realm. "Call us if you need anything"? SAY WHAT? Now, this isn't a water pump on some old car...it's your knee....and do you want to live on pain pills all your life?

This industry does NOT demonstrate, with mathematics....the real risks of taking on this surgery. The words, "might", "could", "chances are", "possibilities are", and so on don't say a thing.....I want to hear, "probabilities are", "plan B is", and oh...let's not forget this one, "We'll stick with you till it's right"!

If this TKR procedure is so great, then do an expose on it....let the whole world know how great it is and all the people that say it's great too....and all the doctors that had it done to them....yeah, right. Gee, and then they can let all those "phonies" that scour the internet for TKR Blog gripes, be identified as "potential law suit people"....and let's isolate them....make it hard for them to sue us.

I say, we unite...go global and to the media and tell it like it is....just like the veterans just did on the Dr. Phil Show.....amazing when the truth is known. All you have to do is write....write....write....to everyone.....hit the net and show your stuff.....I am...and I will till the day I die. Scammers and liars don't fit in very well with my upbringing....and my "realities" will certainly cut into their scamming profits big time.....maybe they will finally own up and tell the world that their "procedure" works reall well on a "Ken Doll", but not at all on a human!

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:31:55 GMT

Surprisingly I haven't encountered many others that have failed surgeries, but obviously they're out there. I saw the specialist (does primarily revisions) and after ridiculous wait times for authorizations, etc, I had a CT. He says it's a "mess" and finally agreed to do the revision. Now I'm told he can't schedule it for 6-8 weeks and I've been given a deadline to return to work 9/1- I'll probably lose my job. He says there's a crack in my tibia (no cause attributed) and significant calcifications forming under the patella. I've been stuck in this nightmare for 6 months now, and the pain is unrelenting. Far worse than it ever was before the surgery. I sent you a message with my email address- hope to talk further!

KPRN

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Sat, 20 Jun 2009 17:56:07 GMT

Just got your message for us to talk and we need to.

No idea where to look for your email address but here's my CA #.

Xqrnm46 559-351-8898 **889431

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:31:40 GMT

Have you called EDD and are you on Disability Insurance?

No employer can legally give anyone a "deadline" for returning to work while out on Disability Insurance or disabled for that matter. It's ILLEGAL and enforceable in California.

Call me: 559-351-8898

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 13:29:02 GMT

Well, I'm guessing that you've found UTOPIA.......

Here's a real good place for you to share your "story". Consumer Reports!

They are now on a roll for several categories......and "hospital infections" is one:

http://www.infectionchallenges.com/infectionchallenges/appropriate-therapy.html?gclid=CJ_yr6HOoJsCFQmbnAodOlp9Aw

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

kprn — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 22:08:00 GMT

Just a quick update. It's been a long spring and summer, and I finally have my revision surgery scheduled for Aug 12th! I'll check back and let you know how things went- hopefully well:-)

KPRN

RE: Knee replacement surgery was botched....I think!

Yankee — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 23:54:16 GMT

Just watching Michael Moore's "Sicko" DVD and I want to move to France!

No cost for healthcare in most of Europe! as opposed to:

http://sickforprofit.com/ceos/