Question and Concern

Posted , 8 users are following.

My husband had a total knee replacement july, 2014. Pain never was gone completely. Jan. 2015, knee became very swollen and very very painful. After a few weeks, dr. ordered bone scan and ctscan. But before we got results, knee swelled up so large my husband couldn't walk. Went to ER. Surgeon went back into the knee. All the tissue was "soggy" he said. He cleaned it up, put drains in. Then 4 days later, drains were filling up fast, so he went back in removed drains. Put in an anticoagulant acid and cut away more soggy tissue. Now 2 weeks later, knee is still very swollen, and he is barely able to walk on it. Surgeon said with the hematomas he thinks he still has bleeding into the tissues. Saw a hematologist today, had tests, but will be a week before we get results. Does anyone have any ideas as to what could be causing this? He was given Xarelto after surgery, and I think that could have been a cause of this problem. Dr. said it appears it never stopped bleeding after the replacement.

2 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi Martha....that is terrible news. I also had my tkr in July 2014 and am heading off to Thailand for a holiday in a few days. I hope that doesn't happen to me.

    I have never heard of this before. I had no idea how much blood we lose during the operation, I was given two blood transfusions, if I had have suspected that, I would have donated my own blood prior to surgery.

    ​Was your husband ok up until January or has he had ongoing problems since surgery?

    All the best when the results come in and please keep us informed.

     

  • Posted

    This sounds awful. I have never heard of this. During the year of post op were their any signs of your husband feeling unwell, temperature or malaise. Had he had bloods taken during the year. Has he been to the doctor during the year. After surgery, did he have a drain fitted. Hopefully this will settle with the help of the professionals I wish your husband well and hound the professionals for a good result to this issue.
  • Posted

    This is very scary. I too (as did probably all of us) have Xarelto after surgery, but because I had a huge hematoma from under the bum right down to the operated knee, they increased it from a 30 day course, to a 6 week course. I'm at 18+ weeks, & I have swollen lumps which I'm told is fluid, I saw the surgeon on Wednesday, & I'm waiting for an ultra sound appointment to come through - I feel for you both (my husband has lots of loaning to put up with!) - he must be in such pain. Let's hope now things are moving re the inverstigations, he gets sorted.
  • Posted

    What an awful time you and your husband be going through - so hope the medics can put things right for him very quickly! It's quite alatming that such severe complications can arise such a long time after the op! Have't heard of Xalreto - i was given Clexane to inject after my op, but i guess they are all blood thinners?

    All best wishes

    Tess

  • Posted

    Hi Martha

    Wow, what a tough journey. I have not heard of this from anyone else. Did your husband have exterior  bruising if the operation never stopped bleeding or any other symptoms. I have been on coumadin for 10 years and had to bridge with Lovenox for my surgery. I am 17 weeks out and still have inflammation. Please keep us posted on your husbands progress.

  • Posted

    Thanks for the replies. My husband was in great health before the replacement. He has an appt. with his surgeon on Tuesday, we are now seeing him on a weekly basis. But I have a call in to him now. I, as a retired nurse, have so many questions and comments. I am going to talk to him about "compartment syndrome", and also a possible allergic reaction to the glue used in this brand knee, or maybe a reaction to the knee itself. Then I am going to see if the dr. can send us to Houston. There is an excellent knee doc there who specializes in  knees that have gone bad. His knee today is more swollen, and very sensitive to the touch, and the hematoma is larger. So I want answers. The dr. has been very patient with me especially because he knows I am going to keep asking questions and demanding answers. There are a lot of lawsuits against the company who makes Xarelto because of bleeding, and death from bleeding. So this is something to be very afraid of.
    • Posted

      Martha

      Did your husband have any external bruising on the knee after the operation? Or did he have any other symptoms after the operation besides the normal ones associated with TKR?

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