Hi,
I have several implants in my joints (mainly in my fingers) from RA. I have a broken implant in my left index mcp joint. The infection is clearing up with antibiotics, until I have the surgery to remove the broken implant. I had this implant in for the past three or four years now. I think the implant has been broken since the week after surgery due to a fall I had taken on my way to see my orthopedic doctor who did the surgery. I have had warning signs that I ignored in the past that someting might be wrong with the implant, like minor infections that I just passed off as being little sores when I bumped my finger. This time when the infection showed itself again, it was worse. I ended up in the ER in so much pain. I was put on an antibotic,sent home until 12 hrs later for my next antibiotic infusion. This time the infection had spread to my whole hand. The orthopedic doctor at the hospital wanted to open up the joint surgically without clearing up the infection first which would have caused damage to my other implants. I am now seeing a specialist, (because I refused to have this doctor do the surgery that he was to eager to do). The infection is almost cleared up and my hand looks normal except for the drainage whole in my mcp joint. I am getting ready for surgery to remove the broken implant to finish clearing up the infection without damage to my other implants. The consequencies that I would have paid for if I ignored the infection like I have done in the past, I would have lost all of my implants and the possibility of my hand. Next time I have a sore on one of my joints that I have an implant in, that secrets puss, I am calling my RA doctor, or my primary doctor to have it looked at before it gets as far as I let this one. I have learned a hard lesson this time, and it scared the heck right out of me.
Hi,
Thank you so much for sharing. I have been hoping to find someone who has had finger joint replacements, but until now had not. I have at least one finger that needs to be replaced. My ortho doc said that he doesn't recommend the replacement, beause not enough of them are being done to really know how long or well they will last. He wants to do a fusion. I was hoping to find people who have had both done to see what would be the best option. Other than the infection that you have been dealing with, would you recommend the replacement over the fusion?
Thank you for your help.
Laura
This is all good to hear about - I have an appt to see an orthopedist about my thumb on Thursday and right now it's a bit better and why mess with it? My neck is terrible though...
I have heard that fusion is safer, but not as convenient - everything is a trade-off!
Ellen
I would recommend both. I have swanson joints in my right hand and They have lasted now for 7 yrs without any problems. The remaining swanson joints in my left hand are doing real good. You need to do research and get other opions from other Doctors. I went on the website where Doctor Swanson (the inventor of the swanson joint.), it stated that the joint least likely to be able to with stand a swanson joint is the smaller joints in the fingers. My orthopedic said to keep the mobility in my mcp joint, a swanson joint would be better than fusion. Do the research and you decide which might be best for you. I have a swanson joint in myleft middle finger in the center joint. I have had that one for almost 9 yrs now, and I have not had any problems with that one. This one joint, I feel that I did break this due to a fall, a week after surgery. I thank you for your response and I hope I have been helpful.
you are right everything is a trade off. My joints were feeling a bit better before I saw my orthopedic doctor also. I still chose to replace them with a swanson joint, because I knew I would have to sooner or later. I have had surgery on my thumb, my ortho. doc. just choose to clean the joint instead of replacing it, my thumb joint is not as damaged as the other knucle joints. Still go to your appointment talk to your Doc. she what they have to say, you might not need joint replacement yet. My toes are fused, because the joints would not have withstood a replacement and my ortho doc., after looking at my x-rays and showing me the damage, left the decision up to me, I chose fusion in my toes, just like I chose the swanson joints in my knuckle joints and other finger joints. I thank you for your comment and I hope I have been helpful.
Thanks, all that terminology is new to me, I will look it up!
Ellen