Cooly, I pray the infection will clear up with the medicines and you won't
have to have another surgery.
Gwen

Hi Cooly. I am so sorry to hear about the infection in your foot. What
an ordeal to go thru. I hope everything clears up for you soon, and you
will be on your feet again in no time! Sue

The hardware in my ankle stayed after the infection, but I told them it
was infected within 24 hours of the surgery, so it didn't get as out of
hand and I had IV antibiotics for 8 days. It was removed about six
months later as a tendon had come unfixed and was cutting across an edge
of the metal.

Regards,

Ari

(((((((((((((((cooly)))))))))))))))))  bummer.  i'm sorry that's happened to
you, guy.  it's never a picnic experience when a surgical site becomes
infected.  kinda crazy how it took so long for signs of it to show up, huh?
weird how that happens sometimes.   "dissolvable" sutures are frequently
found to be stubborn about living up to intention.  but, usually, they work
their way to the surface.

the widely accepted protocols might be different now, or these hardware
removal protocols might be just that particular hospital's/surgeon's way of
handling these kinds of things (or the mfg's suggested protocols, in the
event of infection).  back when my surgical site became infected and went
systemic, they left all of the hardware and prothesis intact and in-situ.
(but they installed enough plastic tubing, for in-coming and out-going
fluids--including 4 drain tubes connected to a pump--that i felt a bit like
a poster girl for "the wonders of plastic".)  come to think of it, when my
brother-in-law's hip replacement went septic, a couple of years ago, they
left his hardware/prosthesis in place, too.  so, you might not have to go
through another surgery, guy; and i'm keeping my fingers, and everything
else, crossed that you won't have to.

absolutely wishing you good luck, as well as, keeping you in my prayerful
thoughts for a speedy recovery, guy.

kate

Some of you may remember that I had foot surgery in December, I haven't
posted an update because I wanted to wait until I was sure of the
result. Last week I would have said my progress was excellent. Feet
looked good, and I was walking with very little discomfort. However last
Tuesday my left foot was suddenly swollen and painful in the metatarsal
behind the big toe. This is the location of the two screws left in the
foot. Off to the surgeon (170 mile round trip), x-rays showed everything
is in the right place.
Three possibles; gout, stress fracture, and infection. Had a blood test
on Thursday but wouldn't get results till Monday so I went ahead with
plans to meet my daughter in Denver (450 miles one way).  Yesterday I
woke up with more pain and it appeared the now apparent infection was
about to erupt right along the incision scar. I spent 5 hours in the ER
in Denver getting more blood tests and they opened the wound to get a
culture. IV drip of antibiotics, I can't remember the name but it
started with R. They contacted the surgeon and prescribed Cipro and
Cephalexin for ten days then recommended I return home and see my
surgeon. Headed home as fast as possible (another 450 miles).
I went back to Wichita this AM (still 170 miles round trip).
Preliminary cultures from Denver indicate staph but they may show more
by the end of the week when I'm supposed to return to the office (I bet
it will still be 170 miles). My surgeon  is saying we'll let the
antibiotics do their work and see if the infection comes back. She feels
it could of been a stitch that hasn't dissolved even 4 months post-op.
I'm willing to see if that works but the ER doc in Denver told me the
protocol for infection with hardware involved was to remove and replace
the hardware. I'm trusting my surgeon but part of it is I just don't
want to start over with another surgery.
Wish me luck, I'm hoping we can get this cleared up before I have to
buy a new vehicle.
Cooly

{{{{{{{Cooly}}}}}}}

DeeTee

{{{{{{Cooly}}}}}
Duckie

Thinking of you. I hope you heal quickly. Keep us posted to how it is going.
Take care. Hugs coming your way.