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No cement and wound only glued together!

Posted , 8 users are following.

Jayive
Jayive

I was told I'd have a cementless THR but didn't know until well afterward that my wound was glued together with only 1 stitch near the bottom. My wound didn't heal properly and kept weeping for about 6 weeks and I had bursas under the skin. I still have major problems and wonder if this type of fixing has caused it.

I went as a NHS patient into a BUPA treatment centre and my surgeon was not British.

Has anybody else experienced this?I don't recall reading anything about it on the forum.

I'd like to know as I'm gathering a list of questions ready to take to a different hip revision surgeon in a different region.

1 like, 26 replies

26 Replies

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  • jilliboss123
    jilliboss123 Jayive

    Posted

    Wow, that sounds horrible.

    My huge scar had several stitches and was covered with a clear waterproof patch.  I took a shower two days after surgery in the hospital.  The waterproof patch stayed on for a couple weeks I think, then he removed the patch and stitches at the same visit.

    I hope things get better for you as thst sounds crazy wrong! 

    • Jayive
      Jayive jilliboss123

      Posted

      Thanks for your support, I also had a large plaster covering the wound. I had to have it re-dressed every day as it kept weeping. I didn't know there were no stitches until I asked when I had to have them removed, then the nurse told me there was only 1 stitch and that glue had been used!
  • tom72276
    tom72276 Jayive

    Posted

    Hi, I 2 had a cementless THR but my wound was closed with 21 staples which came out last Friday (15th) I have 2 agree that I haven't read anywhere on this site about anyone having their wound glued? I agree with Jilliboss in saying that doesn't sound right as well as a bit scary? If i woke up & found that my wound had been glued rather than stapled I wouldn't be at all impressed & would be asking what the hell was going on? Keep us all updated as I'd like 2 hear the reason 4 this, take care & good luck
    • Jayive
      Jayive tom72276

      Posted

      yes, if I had known I guess I'd have been afraid to move. Thanks for your reply.
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure tom72276

      Posted

      Pressfit is just another THR design . Replaced the cement style. There were many issues with the cement & was failing . The press for design from many manufacturers ( non cement )the bone grows onto the implant component for stability as well as a small hole is made in the femur bone and then the femur component is pressed into place in the femur then lightly tapped with a tool to tap and tighten into place once the fit is measured and properly fit for the patient.
  • ros007
    ros007 Jayive

    Posted

    I had subcuticular (under the skin) sutures on both a THR and TKR. The THR scar, which was straight, then had superglue on the surfae. The TKR scar included a scar from previous surgery and is very lumpy at the moment although it has healed OK, An operation on my neck some years ago also had subcuticular stitches with superglue and has faded to near invisibility.

    I didn't have drains with either of the joint replacements, little swelling with the hip, more with the knee but after 3 weeks it is subsiding although it still has to be managed.

    Cementless fixation takes longer to settle - it is more like fracture healing - and you should protect your new joint for a while post-op.  Before you think about revision I would make sure that your joint has failed irrevocably. I'm sorry you had such a miserable time. If the technique is used correctly it can give good wound healing (my TKR was healed enough for dressing removal and BATH before 3 weeks) and very good cosmetic results.

    Hope the eventual results are good.

    • Jayive
      Jayive ros007

      Posted

      Hi, I had my THR well over a year ago and have had constant severe pain ever since, both in the bone and superficially in the muscles. My scar area feels as though it is afire, as I said before it took about 6 weeks to heal and has never stopped hurting, even when I sit down I can feel the pain so now my GP has arranged to send me to the hospital where he trained as he knows the system there. I see a hip revision surgeon next month to see what if anything, can be done.

      Thanks for your support.

    • ros007
      ros007 Jayive

      Posted

      After a year of misery I too would be looking for another opinion.  Thank heaven I've been more fortunate. I do know of two people with poor 1st THRs who have gone on to revision at different hospitals with great and long lasting success so I hope the same happens for you.
  • gloriajoy
    gloriajoy Jayive

    Posted

    Hi Jayive

    Your story highlights the fact that many patients receive too little explanation before or guidance after the op. causing lots of anxiety.

    Being kept informed is vital both to peace of mind and the knowledge needed to speed recovery.

    It shows how helpful this forum is to us all. 

    I hope everything turns out okay for you.I am sure all contributors to the forum are wishing you well!

     

    Let us know how you get on.Best of luck.

    Joy

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure gloriajoy

      Posted

      I totally agree green with the fact that after surgery there is very little support.

    • Jayive
      Jayive gloriajoy

      Posted

      Thank you, yes I'm sure that, like many others, I wish I'd known about this site before I let the butcher loose. I had absolutely no idea what I was letting myself in for. Hindsight, as they say, is a wonderful thing!
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee gloriajoy

      Posted

      Yes Joy, when asked "are there any questions?" it is difficult to even imagine questions without ever having been through it.
    • Jayive
      Jayive DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hi Dawndeede, as you say, how can we ask the questions when we have  no idea what is coming?

      Now that we have had the THR and, from what I read on your postings, it seems as though we have similar after problems, I am compiling a list of questions to take to the 'expert' that I've been referred to.

      So now I ask, from anyone here, what questions would you ask if you had a worse problem now?

      My after THR consists of 24/7 pain, sometimes bad, sometimes excrutiating and also what feels like a deep bone pain in the top of my leg where I imagine the bone stops and  in my buttock.As I said, I was stuck together with glue but think I had some inner stitches which were disolvable. It hurts if I sit down, lie down or stand up and moving from one position to another is so bad that sometimes I'm shouting with pain. My scar area feels as though it is burning, yet the tests, done by the surgeon who did my op, don't show anything wrong. I have had an MRI, fluid was drawn off from the hip but was normal, metal allergy testing, steroid injections, acupuncture and physiotherapy in the 17 months since my surgery, and now the surgeon has discharged me!!!

      I now am taking large amounts of drugs in an attempt to control the pain while I wait to see the 'revision expert'

      So again I ask, what would your questions be?

      Thanks for listening, it really does help to hear from you

    • gloriajoy
      gloriajoy Jayive

      Posted

      Hi Jayive

      Sorry to read of your problems.I have not yet had THR but would suggest the following questions.

      1)How many hip surgeries have you performed?

      2)How many were revision procedures?

      3)Which method do you favour,posterior or anterior?

      4)which prothesis do you use,also do you favour cemented or uncemented?

      Good luck and stay strong.

      I hope to follow your progress, which I pray will be positive!

      Regards JOY (gloriajoy)

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Jayive

      Posted

      You have described my life with pain.  I involuntarily scream with movement, so consequently I do not go outside my home very often.  I did not have the wound problem that you have suffered but everything else seems the same.

      indsight tells me that I would ask;

      * What is the worst thing that could go wrong?

      * If that happens to me,how will you help me and are you going to discharge me and leave me in pain?

      * Are you still going to charge me full price for office visits even though it was this surgey that left me with this pain?

      *What is the worst thing I could do after surgery?

      * Are you going to stop my pain medications?

      * What are all the risks involved with revision surgery procedures?   And exactly how will you continue to help me if I end up even worse?

      I am not taking any pain klllers because I dislike them, but this THR pain is excruciating.  Laws demand that my doc can only prescribe pain meds for three months after the surgery and I am on my own after that.  I am not a doper but dopers have made it difficult for people without addictions to obtain the pain medications they actually need.  

      I am so there with you in spirit!  Hugs! confused

    • Jayive
      Jayive DawnDedee

      Posted

      Hi Dawndedee,

      Thanks, I really wish you didn't know what I have to cope with but I realise we're both in the same boat.

      Thanks for all your suggestions but some are not applicable to me as I'm in the UK and have the NHS so I don't have to worry about the cost as it's free to UK residents.

      My GP will not stop my pain medicines and is really very supportive, so that's not a problem and as a pensioner my prescriptions are free of charge.

      I've already been discharged from the surgeon/hospital where I had my THR so he's no longer in the picture.

      I now have to see the 'expert revision guy' and it's the questions that I need to ask him that I am researching. So far I have 11 questions and have added your last question to my list as I need to know what, if anything can be done.

      I send 'hugs' back across the water to you and wish you well.

    • Jayive
      Jayive gloriajoy

      Posted

      Hi Joy,

      Thanks, I hope you too have asked all these questions before your surgery, I wish I had, but I was far too nieve to even think about having a problem afterwards. You are lucky to have found this site and to be aware of any problems before you have your op, do you have a date for it?

      I guess the 'expert' hip surgeon I am seeing next month will be very experienced as that's his job. Apparently he only does the operations that have to be done again, mine was posterior so I guess,if he can do something, it will be posterior again.

      It really helps having replies from friends like you and I will be doing my best to stay strong, it's just over 2 weeks now to the appointment then I will know what's going to happen

    • gloriajoy
      gloriajoy Jayive

      Posted

      HI Jayive

      Very good luck to you,stay positive and hopefully all will go well!

       As you rightly comment on another thread ,our NHS takes care of us free of charge,even if there are problems we are never abandoned as can happen in the US.So surely you will be sorted out soon.

      This forum is a comfort to many of us.To be able to exchange our experiences is so reassuring.lol

      We will all be rooting for you!

      All the best Joy

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