Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Clear Watery Discharge At The Incision Site Of Tibia Surgery
Question: Hi Doc,
I am a 56 year old male. I have had multiple surgery on my left tibia.I have osteomyelitis since early 2011 after a successful bone graft. Thereafter,I underwent debridement twice;without success.I again broke the same tibia in Feb,2014.Had an Ilizarov fixator and debridement thereafter. Bone is now almost united,the fixator removed.Now there is a sinus at a different location;albeit close to the earlier one.Despite my pleadings and submissions,my local ortho doesn't prescribe/permit taking Lizoforce 600 beyond 21 days.The dicharge is very less,almost two drops a day. Please help me.
I am a 56 year old male. I have had multiple surgery on my left tibia.I have osteomyelitis since early 2011 after a successful bone graft. Thereafter,I underwent debridement twice;without success.I again broke the same tibia in Feb,2014.Had an Ilizarov fixator and debridement thereafter. Bone is now almost united,the fixator removed.Now there is a sinus at a different location;albeit close to the earlier one.Despite my pleadings and submissions,my local ortho doesn't prescribe/permit taking Lizoforce 600 beyond 21 days.The dicharge is very less,almost two drops a day. Please help me.
Brief Answer:
A reactive discharge likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
A very less clear watery discharge is likely to be a reactive discharge due to a chronic inflammation in the area. Such a discharge is not necessarily associated with an infection. After you have taken Lizoforce for 21 days, the infection would have subsided by now.
Usually such discharge gradually decreases and stops on its own in 2-3 weeks. You can do a hot compress in the area to improve the blood circulation in the area and for better healing.
A culture sensitivity of the discharge will help in confirming the absence of infection.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
A reactive discharge likely.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
Thanks for posting your query.
A very less clear watery discharge is likely to be a reactive discharge due to a chronic inflammation in the area. Such a discharge is not necessarily associated with an infection. After you have taken Lizoforce for 21 days, the infection would have subsided by now.
Usually such discharge gradually decreases and stops on its own in 2-3 weeks. You can do a hot compress in the area to improve the blood circulation in the area and for better healing.
A culture sensitivity of the discharge will help in confirming the absence of infection.
I hope this answers your query.
In case you have additional questions or doubts, you can forward them to me, and I shall be glad to help you out.
Wishing you good health.
Regards.
Dr. Praveen Tayal.
For future query, you can directly approach me through my profile URL http://bit.ly/Dr-Praveen-Tayal
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Dear Doc,
Thank you,indeed,for a prompt reply.I had attached a copy of an MRI scan with my primary query wherein it stated that " .....it represents chronic Osteomyelitis with cloaca".It also talks of "hyperintense signal on T2W...represents osteitis..". Additionally,I feel some pain while walking;specially in the mornings.
The discharge does stop/decrease after taking Lizoforce,but restarts after a couple of days.Kindly let know how to go about a hot compress.
Do you,in the light of these facts,suggest that the discharge could be on account of inflammation? I shall go for a culture sensitivity tomorrow. That will confirm if it is infection.How do you help me in case it turns out to OM? Kindly have a look at a snap of the concerned area.
regards XXXXXXX XXXX, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
0000
Thank you,indeed,for a prompt reply.I had attached a copy of an MRI scan with my primary query wherein it stated that " .....it represents chronic Osteomyelitis with cloaca".It also talks of "hyperintense signal on T2W...represents osteitis..". Additionally,I feel some pain while walking;specially in the mornings.
The discharge does stop/decrease after taking Lizoforce,but restarts after a couple of days.Kindly let know how to go about a hot compress.
Do you,in the light of these facts,suggest that the discharge could be on account of inflammation? I shall go for a culture sensitivity tomorrow. That will confirm if it is infection.How do you help me in case it turns out to OM? Kindly have a look at a snap of the concerned area.
regards XXXXXXX XXXX, XXXXXXX XXXXXXX
0000
Brief Answer:
Seen the attached image and report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have seen the MRI report and the attached image.
The pain while walking can be due to non healed fracture or due to inflammation.
You can do a hot compress with a water filled bottle for 10minutes thrice a day. The discharge could be due to inflammation. In case it is due to infection then it is best to take the antibiotic after a culture sensitivity report. In case it is due to osteomyelitis then changing the antibiotic to moxifloxacin can help.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Seen the attached image and report.
Detailed Answer:
Hello.
Thanks for writing again.
I have seen the MRI report and the attached image.
The pain while walking can be due to non healed fracture or due to inflammation.
You can do a hot compress with a water filled bottle for 10minutes thrice a day. The discharge could be due to inflammation. In case it is due to infection then it is best to take the antibiotic after a culture sensitivity report. In case it is due to osteomyelitis then changing the antibiotic to moxifloxacin can help.
Hope my answer is helpful.
Do accept my answer in case there are no further queries.
Regards.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
