Husband's Total Hip Replacement

Hi, thank you for your reply. During visiting this evening I had a look in my husband's medical file & noticed that he had been prescribed 'Flucloxacillin. 250mg. 'Wound Infection' was also noted. The start date for this medication was 10/2/17. My husband told me that earlier this afternoon the Ward Sister had taken a look at the surrounding area near his dressing & said it was 'warm & red' . This evening he has been given him a bag of ice to place beside the dressing. He has been told that the Surgeon will see him Monday morning.

That is definitely an infection. Probably nothing to worry about - he's in the right place if he's going to get one. They will want to ensure that it is under control and not migrated to the hip joint before they let him out, I would think.

?As for loss of appetite, I think most people experience that at some point early on. Just try to encourage him to eat a little and often, as he needs the energy to fight the infection and heal. My physio told me that for the first six weeks, every food is nil calories! In other words, just for now he can blow off worrying about what he eats, and just concentrate on eating whatever he can. If that means tempting morsels, then he should.

Hi Emanuel, thank you for your post. So sorry to hear that you have to undergo the revision surgery. To think these infections can still be present so long after your initial THR. I started to worry on day 2 post op when the Nurse recorded a 126 heart rate & my husband told me he had 2 ECG's that day. His HR dropped on day 3 to 104. BP is normal now. Infection hasn't been mentioned however, when I attend hospital this afternoon I shall ask them directly. I don't want to worry my husband at this stage as I'm sure his surgeon will tell him he has an infection tomorrow morning when he visits him on the ward.

I do hope your surgery is a success. Very best wishes for a full & speedy return to health.

JayBee

Given what you read in the notes and the meds they have put him on, there's no doubt about it. Rather a poor show not telling you. Infection is a risk, obviously, but in most cases it does get managed. One of the things that is in the "small print" that nobody ever reads, is that infection can even start months or years after the surgery - it just takes the bad luck to get an infection somewhere else in the body and for it to be carried to the hip in the bloodstream. But infections are a risk of life anyway, and most of them we are able to fight.

?I know this must be a great worry for you, but the odds are that things will resolve quickly now, and he may just have some extra meds for a time to make sure that the infection is beaten. We'll all be thinking of you, so do let us know when he is clear, won't you?

Hi Renee,

Thank you for your warm welcome & big warm hug. I am so pleased I found the forum & value the posts provided so far. My husband (Bee) is in the best place & that's reassuring.

He seems to think he will be discharged tomorrow, we'll have to see. I'm very worried about him but will try to remain positive.

I'll update the thread with his progress.

Best Wishes, Jay

Thank you Judith & to everyone who posted messages of advice & support. Further update re: Wound Infection. I asked the Nurse if my husband's wound was infected and she said it was not. I told her that the notes suggested otherwise. I was informed that antibiotics are sometimes prescribed as a precaution following a THR and not to worry as my husband was making good progress & not to be concerned. He was discharged this afternoon & is now receiving lots of TLC.

I'm sure he'll be a lot better now he's home and in your care. Good luck!