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Suggest Treatment For Wound Injury After Hip Replacement

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Posted on Thu, 19 Feb 2015
Question: Thank you. My husband was injured at work and subsequently had hip surgery. His first surgery was successful with an excellent outcome. He assumed his second one would travel the same path. Wrong.
He had the initial surgery in XXXXXXX 2014 and by July 1, 2014 it was clear that there was a serious problem that was not being addressed. In fact, I was dismissed as over reacting and was informed all surgery incisions have discharges. His incision was so angry and infected that they should not have shoved out the door two days after the surgery. Finally, after multiple calls from his PT the doctor agreed to see this "infected wound."
Jumping to the ugly finding and two emergency surgeries later to stem the onset of MRSA they still tried to pin it on me for changing his sopping wet disgusting bandaging that had marked everything from leather car seats to the furniture in the house. He now is suffering from sharp pain that he feels is coming from the tip of his hip. He literally screams out from the pain and he can't get an answer from the surgeon. A physician friend suggested that it sounds like bursitis. After my long and winding story, do you have any suggestions or ideas? Any help is greatly appreciated.
Thanking you in advance, XXXXXXX Bass-Jackson
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Answered by Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Given the history, husband is going to need Antibiotics and scanning

Detailed Answer:
Hi there, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic,

Let me make sure I have your husbands medical history down straight. After that, we can discuss management.

From what I picked up:

Your Husband had hip surgery in XXXXXXX 2014.
After which the incisions became red and inflammed.
Eventually the medical team your husband was dealing with agreed that this was probably an infection
After which, there were some other surgeries and treatment for MRSA.
Now a friend of yours believes that this may be bursitis.

Well. The information you have given me is pretty fragmented. I need to ask you a few questions before I can get a picture of what is going on.

1) What was the initial surgery for?
2) Where Any artificial implants used for the surgery?
3) What antibiotics were given after the surgery?
4) What where the 2 surgeries done after the initial surgery in XXXXXXX 2014?
5) What kind of testing was done to diagnose MRSA? Was it confirmatory?
6) What kind of treatment was given for the MRSA?
7) How is your husband feeling right now? Is the wound still discharging? Does he have a fever? Does he show any other symptoms?

This really sounds like a wound infection. For sure. The question is what needs to be done about it.

Post operative infections need to be managed carefully. Blood work and Cultures need to be done to figure out which pathogen is involved and the correct set of antibiotics need to be given. Simultaneously, if there is a pocket of pus near the implant (if there is an implant) then that pus needs to be taken out surgically. Wuite possibly along with that implant.

So the management of this situation has a lot of variables and I need a clearer picture before I can give you some useful advice.

Let me know what you are thinking. I look forward to your reply.

Vinay
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj

Neurologist, Surgical

Practicing since :2006

Answered : 544 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Wound Injury After Hip Replacement

Brief Answer: Given the history, husband is going to need Antibiotics and scanning Detailed Answer: Hi there, Thanks for coming to HealthCareMagic, Let me make sure I have your husbands medical history down straight. After that, we can discuss management. From what I picked up: Your Husband had hip surgery in XXXXXXX 2014. After which the incisions became red and inflammed. Eventually the medical team your husband was dealing with agreed that this was probably an infection After which, there were some other surgeries and treatment for MRSA. Now a friend of yours believes that this may be bursitis. Well. The information you have given me is pretty fragmented. I need to ask you a few questions before I can get a picture of what is going on. 1) What was the initial surgery for? 2) Where Any artificial implants used for the surgery? 3) What antibiotics were given after the surgery? 4) What where the 2 surgeries done after the initial surgery in XXXXXXX 2014? 5) What kind of testing was done to diagnose MRSA? Was it confirmatory? 6) What kind of treatment was given for the MRSA? 7) How is your husband feeling right now? Is the wound still discharging? Does he have a fever? Does he show any other symptoms? This really sounds like a wound infection. For sure. The question is what needs to be done about it. Post operative infections need to be managed carefully. Blood work and Cultures need to be done to figure out which pathogen is involved and the correct set of antibiotics need to be given. Simultaneously, if there is a pocket of pus near the implant (if there is an implant) then that pus needs to be taken out surgically. Wuite possibly along with that implant. So the management of this situation has a lot of variables and I need a clearer picture before I can give you some useful advice. Let me know what you are thinking. I look forward to your reply. Vinay