More info on Right TKR performed 10/8/08

[Guest guest]

I had requested a complete copy of my chart from my TKR doc (Dr.

Coon, Orthopedic Surgical Institute, Red Bluff, CA) since he is pretty far

away, and I wanted to know which implant was used, and needed copies for my

bone specialist and rheumatologist.

I just got the package, and it cost $15.37 for copying!

Anyway, drum roll, I got the Stryker Triathlon in my right knee. The

description of the procedure is worth the 15 bucks - it's interesting that

they refer to two " stab wounds " made " three fingerbreadths proximal to the

lateral rise of the femur " and " anteriolateral 3 cm distal to the tibial

tuberosity " . " Stab wounds " .

I was 53 years old, so younger than " average " for this procedure - but I

have 5 autoimmune diseases and this has been blamed for why my knees wore

out early. I blame the stairmaster, myself. In any case, the surgeon notes

that " examination showed severe patellofemoral arthritis with eburnation of

the patellar and trochlear bone. Synovial biopsies were taken. It was

noted that the bone on all aspects of the joint was a dark brown in color

which is quite unusual. This was felt to be due to hemosiderin or heavy

metal disposition, possibly metabolic bone disease such as Gaucher's

disease. Bone fragments were sent to pathology for analysis. "

Although Dr. Coon was shocked at the color of the inside of my bones, the

pathology report on the slice that he sent came back " normal " . Hmmmm! He

said he had never seen bone that color before, and this is a guy who does

600 knees a year.

Later in the report it states that a " size 3 MIS min keel tibial component

was placed " - this is the trial component which is tested bending the leg

every which way, then removed. I then received the Stryker Triathlon,

apparently size 1.

2 grams of Vancomycin was mixed with the cement before it was applied. The

posterior capsule was injected with a combination of ropivacaine,

epinephrine, Toradol, morphone and Clinidine. This all resulted in the knee

not hurting much for the first 2 days, then hurting a LOT!

The case classification was " clean " .

The blood loss was estimated at 10 mL.

I had pain management issues going into this surgery, and they got flared up

by the stress of the surgery. Therefore I was hospitalized 3 more times

after the surgery - not for the knee, really, but for overall high pain

levels. I have finally gotten stabilize and am feeling pretty good, though

my knee hurts when I overdo it. My orthopedist warned that even though I

have been walking on it from day one, can run up and down stairs, and have

great flexion (130 or so), the real recovery of the body from this surgery

takes about 4 months, and I am only half that far now.

I just thought I would share this since it could be of interest to others

who have had or are going to have this surgery - called " minimally invasive

TKR " .

The bad news is that my other knee is really bad too, and it looks like I

will have to go through this again in a year. Sigh.

claire

Callahan Goodman