Joe A Shaw PA-C - 9/12/2008

Question
I had a medial epicondyle release with nerve transposition on my left elbow on 8/7 it got infected on 8/20 I was admitted on IV antibiotics for 4 1/2 days (Zosyn) My dr has lied to my face and has since been fired.  My elbow is now locking with excrutiating pain and this has been getting worse over the last week, tonight it locked for over an hour straight with heat coming from the elbow.  The infection was cellulitis and no one ever tested the joint for a joint infection nor has it been imaged at all since surgery.  Should I be concerned?

Answer
Theresa,
You need to keep a close watch on it keep area clean and make your f/u appts. That is a great AB and hopefully will take care of it. Imanging studies wouldnt be all that helpful at this point. They may want to aspirate joint fluid ONLY if they feel it is not getting better and still infected and by a bacteria that zosyn doesnt cover. When you aspirate you are putting another hole through your skin from the outside into your joint..ie which can increase the chance of infection again. That surgery really 2 in 1 takes several mos to get better even w/o complications