Knee wound oozes clear yellowish liquid.
Posted , 8 users are following.
I had TKR on 11th April 2018 and have been concerned by yellowish clear liquid leaking from my wound. At the Physio Class I asked the Nurse to look at my wound. She got a Doctor to come and swabs were taken, bloods, and I was given antibiotics and new dressings. Consensus of opinion was that I had an infection.
I wasn’t able to get an appt. with my Medical Centre for a dressing change for a fortnight. I decided I better replace the dressings myself. Receptionist thought this best. The liquid was running down my leg and into my shoes. I carried on doing the dressings regularly becoming extremely concerned.
Today, the hospital rang me for a progress report. I related the above and they told me to attend the hospital straight away. I was told at the hospital that no infection was found on the swabs or in my blood. Nurse took photos of my wound and I was asked to describe the discharge.
Back home, I received a call from the Nurse. She had told the Surgeon of my problem and shown him the photo. I am not to take any more antibiotics and return to Outpatients on Tuesday. I am concerned.
I looked online tonight to try to discover what was going on with my knee. I read of “Knee Ooze” and “Serous Liquid”. The description of this tally’s with my symptoms!
Has anyone any first hand experience of this, please? In UK apparently, it is seldom discussed, but the US has better info regarding it. Any help or advice gratefully received. MM 🙃
0 likes, 28 replies
robert61422 maggiemaybe
Posted
Hi, my wife had oozing for quite a while after surgery. Oozing is not necessarily a sign of infection. The doctor packed the knee with antibiotic beads and said this could be the source.
If there is pus coming out, or you are running a fever, or the knee is swollen and red, I would then worry.
They run a eSED rate and CPR to check for inflammation and infection. They can also take some of the fluid out and culture it.
Based on results, the doctor will determine if it's infected and go from there.
Just keep the doctor informed and follow his advice.
kim87231 robert61422
Posted
Thanks .. your reply has been very useful. Won't worry so much now.
maggiemaybe robert61422
Posted
Many thanks for this info, Robert. Makes a lot of sense. I go to the Hospital tomorrow. Will find out more then - hopefully! Thanks for replying. 🙃
nwf477 maggiemaybe
Posted
Well besides the doom and gloom lets look at the bright side !! If the Dr say I need another surgery probably will not get much sleep prior but during the surgery a nice nap afterwards its room service. Need anything press a button I will not have to do much of anything. Now of course when PT starts yuck and once your back home trying to get around even more yuck but once the dressing comes off I can count the staples and see if the new incision is longer then the last currently at 12" Its just thrilling to know I might get to experience this soon. ( now of course its all B/S )
maggiemaybe nwf477
Posted
I know you are joking but I really hope all comes right in the end. Best of luck!
I’m off shortly to see what they say to me! Not a bed of yer actual roses this, is it?
All the best! MM 🙃
nwf477 maggiemaybe
Posted
My appt is at 130pm and its 1130am right now my nerves of steel are now nerves of mush!!! To make matters worse I had another appt this morning ( that went perfect ) and asked a nurse about my knee as in worse case. She said depending on what type of procedure I could very well have 2 surgeries it just depends but in any event no matter what if that have to reconstruct to fix the bone loss the bone is going to have to heal before I can put any weight on it. You know I bet deep down inside your probably thing " Boy I wish I was in Norman's shoes it really sounds like fun "!!! Once its over then I can say I have had 18 surgeries on the L knee. Now being honest this whole thing is driving me nuts and it really scares the Cr-p out of me. Hopefully it will not be but so bad.
Norm
maggiemaybe nwf477
Posted
That is so tough, Norman. I wouldn’t have considered that less bone meant your knee couldn’t hold up your weight! It’s worth having done. Though I personally think the Surgeon should be experienced enough during the surgery not to have taken so much bone out. I wish you good luck all the way from now on. You have courage, ya know, it takes a brave man to take this on the chin!
i saw the Surgeon at my hospital today. He uses dissolvable stitches and where they have healed I’m not getting the wound ooze! He told me that very rarely someone is allergic to the stuff the dissolvable stitches are made of! Me! I am rare! He wants to see me next week and on 31st May. I actually asked him about wound ooze and serous fluid. He said yes, it exists and is normal! I am shattered tonight so I’ll wish you good night and hope things happen better than expected. Once you are walking, it will be just a memory! Thanks for all our chats, MM 🤗
Oldfatguy1 nwf477
Posted
Norm....just catching up a bit. My wife was back in the hospital for a few days w/some gastric problems so my attention was undivided.
These Drs appts that have variables attached can drive you completely batty. Then you get so much info from various members of the staff and of course, they all differ a little. My wife had just seen the GI PA who spent a lot of time with her. Then to the hospital and a GI specialist comes in and changes about half the stuff the PA recommended. Then the Dr advises my wife th a the PA is just a lady that works in the office and he's the Dr. So who knows.
Hope you got a good report and a workable solution as a result. Hang in there.
Rolland
nwf477 maggiemaybe
Posted
nwf477 maggiemaybe
Posted
The appt went much better then I expected I am one of those that always prepare myself for the worst that way I am prepared for whatever the outcome. Bone loos is no big deal the Dr. said he is more worried about infection then the bone loss. He showed me on the internet you can get replacements fro whatever size you need. He showed me one image somebody had the entire femoral bone along with a replacement done ( it was enough to make you GAG!! ) The Dr. was nice but the one thing that bugged me the Dr. that referred me his office did not send the lab results as they were supposed to do and now I have to wait. Isn't it great!! One things is for sure I need another replacement # 6 ( bet you wish you had that many ?? ) and there is still a chance I might have an infection.
maggiemaybe nwf477
Posted
Good luck with it all, Norman! Don’t they make you cross when they say they will do a thing then don’t?
In the lift here yesterday I got talking to a Physio who had come to see someone else on the 2nd floor. She said how well I was walking! I told her that I’d been using an interferential machine for around 8 years on both knees and this Physio said that using the IF machine would strengthen my muscles and have made recovery easier! Well I’m blowed! I may be allergic to the Surgeon’s special stitches and have ‘wound ooze’ but I’m recovering well! Cant win ‘em all! Got an appt. today with the local hospital, not the NHS new Care Clinic. Variety is the spice of life, innit?
All Good Wishes to you Norman, and to anyone else in pain. Maggie 🙃
Cissy2018 maggiemaybe
Posted
I'm having yellow ooze from different parts on my leg with blisters. is this normal with TKR.