Increased Issues With Infections After THR?

[Guest guest]

I had THR on Dec. 3; my surgeon wants me to take antibiotics every time I go to

the dentist from now on (for life). He explained that an infection can start in

the mouth and travel into the joints.  Not all surgeons required this lifetime

precaution.

j.kusudo@...

(586) 268-2664

From: whitedavidp <whitedavidp@...>

Subject: Increased Issues With Infections After THR?

Joint Replacement

Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 4:01 PM

 

I was told by my doctor yesterday that after a THR one needed to be far more

careful about infections than before. I wonder:

(a) Is this only in the near term after surgery or is this basically for the

rest of one's life after the THR?

( Why is this so?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

mine does for my hip...forever...BARB

Increased Issues With Infections After

THR?

Joint Replacement

Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 4:01 PM

I was told by my doctor yesterday that after a THR one needed to be far more

careful about infections than before. I wonder:

(a) Is this only in the near term after surgery or is this basically for the

rest of one's life after the THR?

( Why is this so?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

My understanding is that the risk of infection is highest immediately after

surgery. After six months to a year the blood flow has recovered as much as it

is going to and the joint has sealed itself as much as it will. The blood flow

is going to be less than it was pre-surgery and some of the natural boundaries

were breached during surgery. Sometimes the boundaries will re-seal, sometimes

they won't. Depends on surgeons skill, technique, composition and porosity of

artificial joint, and individual body's response to injury. The strength of an

individual's immune system also comes into play. There remains a higher than

normal risk of an infection migrating to the area of the artificial joint for

life.

It is impossible to know who has the magic combination that will protect them

from getting an infection related to the artificial joint. Best bet is to be

cautious and pro-active regarding any infection.

I have had a very bad year with mosquito bites, flea bites, and psoriasis sores

getting infected. I have treated with Triple-antibiotic ointment only. I am

moderately active and have always had a strong immune system. Just last week I

chopped up the tip of a finger that got in way of a high speed fan and it got a

minor infection after a couple days that I treated with Triple-antibiotic.

So far my hips appear to be doing OK. The consequences of an infection getting

out of control and migrating to the artificial joint are severe. Precautions

and aggressive treatment seem warranted to prevent the artificial joint becoming

infected and having to be removed to treat the infection. Your Mileage May

Vary.

R THR 3/20/2007

L THR 12/22/2009

>

> Joan absolutely, I have cream at the ready, as I am forever burning my

> fingers on the dreaded oven.

> xx

>

> -- Re: Increased Issues With Infections

> After THR?

>

> Yes indeed, . I am really careful even with paper cuts and finger

> burns

> which I get with regularity. I love to cook, but am a klutz in the kitchen.

> I

> keep touching the red bits.

> So invest in a lot of anti-bacteria ointment.

> Joan

>

>

>

> ------------------------------------

>

>

[Guest guest]

There¹s a lot of disagreement about this.

When I had a colonoscopy last year, the gastroenterologist advised me NOT to

have antibiotics ahead of time; the orthpedist told me I should. So I¹m

caught between these two highly trained people, and the gastro said, ³I¹ll

leave it up to you.²

You¹ll leave a medical matter upon which experts disagree to ME, a tax

lawyer?? How crazy is that. So I asked the gastro, what are the downsides

of taking the antibiotics? She said, ³we¹re breeding supergerms.² Well, I

didn¹t feel all that public spirited, so I took them. If everyone¹s so

worried about antibiotic overuse, talk to the folks who feed them by the ton

to beef cattle.

I plan to keep taking them. For life. What the harm?

F

TKR 1/15/09

on 1/1/11 12:01 PM, j.kusudo@... at j.kusudo@... wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> I had THR on Dec. 3; my surgeon wants me to take antibiotics every time I go

> to the dentist from now on (for life). He explained that an infection can

> start in the mouth and travel into the joints.  Not all surgeons required this

> lifetime precaution.

>

> j.kusudo@... <mailto:j.kusudo%40att.net>

>

> (586) 268-2664

>

>

>

> From: whitedavidp <whitedavidp@... <mailto:whitedavidp%40> >

> Subject: Increased Issues With Infections After THR?

> Joint Replacement

> <mailto:Joint Replacement%40>

> Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 4:01 PM

>

>  

>

> I was told by my doctor yesterday that after a THR one needed to be far more

> careful about infections than before. I wonder:

>

> (a) Is this only in the near term after surgery or is this basically for the

> rest of one's life after the THR?

>

> ( Why is this so?

>

> Thanks

>

>

[Guest guest]

It can also start in the nose the groin any where. What seems insignificant

to you, can travel without you knowing. And then bingo its hit the spot its

searching for your new joint. ,my surgeon requires antibiotic treatment for

life.for things like teeth cleaning or any dental work that involves blood.

Other surgery and general common sense on other infections. They don't all

blow out to be a raging infection.

-- Re: Increased Issues With Infections

After THR?

mine does for my hip...forever...BARB

Increased Issues With Infections After

THR?

Joint Replacement

Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 4:01 PM

I was told by my doctor yesterday that after a THR one needed to be far more

careful about infections than before. I wonder:

(a) Is this only in the near term after surgery or is this basically for the

rest of one's life after the THR?

( Why is this so?

Thanks

[Guest guest]

Any invasive or potentially invasive procedure. Gums get nicked during

teeth cleaning; if the gastro finds a polyp, she¹ll cut it off on the spot,

and there you are again. Furthermore, the lower colon is hardly a germ-free

environment!

The gastros did some ³study² apparently that showed that the incidence of

such infections after a colonoscopy is ³very rare.² I just don¹t want to be

one of the ³rare² people.

TKR 1/15/09

on 1/1/11 1:50 PM, maryanne.waspe1@... at

maryanne.waspe1@... wrote:

>

>

>

>

>

> It can also start in the nose the groin any where. What seems insignificant

> to you, can travel without you knowing. And then bingo its hit the spot its

> searching for your new joint. ,my surgeon requires antibiotic treatment for

> life.for things like teeth cleaning or any dental work that involves blood.

> Other surgery and general common sense on other infections. They don't all

> blow out to be a raging infection.

>

>

>

> -- Re: Increased Issues With Infections

> After THR?

>

> mine does for my hip...forever...BARB

>

>

>

> Increased Issues With Infections After

> THR?

> Joint Replacement

> <mailto:Joint Replacement%40>

> Date: Tuesday, December 28, 2010, 4:01 PM

>

>

>

>

>

>

> I was told by my doctor yesterday that after a THR one needed to be far more

> careful about infections than before. I wonder:

>

> (a) Is this only in the near term after surgery or is this basically for the

> rest of one's life after the THR?

>

> ( Why is this so?

>

> Thanks

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>