6 months post ankle fusion - do i have infection?

Foot care
1

Over the last two weeks i have been getting night shivering and chills. I do not have a temperature.
Last week i took Flucloxacillin for the week but still shivering at the end of the course.
I’ve just started taking Co-Amoxiclav for this week.

My Doc is unsure where the infection is but looks like my big toe is a bit red and ingrown toenail.

However near the site of the incision for the screws for the fusion i have been sore for a few weeks but no redness.

Is it likely that the screws are infected or is it unlikely after 6 months?

Anyone any idea?

Thanks
Keith

2

Im not sure but I dont think after 6 months screws would develop infection
Im 8 months post op and where my scar is still sensitive, not painful.
Maybe get a blood test to see what type of infection your body is fighting
Could be nothing to do with your ankle
All my best

3

If you get no answers ,I’d get another opinion.

4

agree with above answer ask for different blood test that shows exactly type of infection.. wrong antibiotics will not work

5

Thanks Sandra,
Sensitive describes it - more than painful.So perhaps thats all it is.
My concern was also if its possible for an infection in a toe to migrate to an ankle ?

Trying to get hold of Doctor at the moment is not easy!
And blood tests in hospital are not looking likely

Hence the question here while I try to persue it

thanks

6

My metalwork blew up big time after a year - emergency admission to hospital and two operations to get the screws out. Not good. An infection (streptococcus) got in through a cut in my heel and the whole leg swelled up with enormous pain. A near run thing, as they say. Luckily they found the right antibiotic in time but I was on a drip for a fortnight with lots of medics being rather contrite.The trouble is with orthopaedic surgeons that they only think of bones and so not good at spotting skin problems. I had had athletes foot fungal infection under a walking plaster during a bit of hot weather which had caused my heel to crack etc.
Surely you need a blood test to find what the infection is caused by - or one night you will wake up like I did and have to call an ambulance…

7

Hi Penny
Thanks for reply
Wow thats bad and I rather think thats my problem. Infection in big toe caused by skin tear and ingrown toenail. May have infected the metal work. Been on second lot of antibiotics for a day but am feeling quite ill.
The A&E departments at hospital are v full of Covid-19 but think I’ll have to risk a visit.

worst nightmare but thanks for letting me know your experience.

Keep safe and well everyone

8

Wow Penny thats unbelievable
Scary stuff
My thought process was the ortho puts the bones back together but the rest is up to us PT and recovery!!!
So sorry for your bad (or just very unlucky) experience.
Thats a lot to go through

9

Quick update.
Shivering and chills was caused by infection. But after 3 hospital visits, Xray and ct scan it looks like the infection was only in the toe - not the ankle!
Now in isolation because of the dangerous places I visited (hospitals are best avoided at the moment)
Consultant will phone with full scan results when available later this week.

Thank God.