Well on 9th October I went back in to hospital, exactly a year to the day of my initial operation. This time for a clean out and possible revision as the infection is still in the joint.
All went well and I am now relitavely pain free but still need the walking frame to get about and the knee brace, However; they have told me that the only way to fix this is to completely remove the implant and replace it, but this can't be done in one operation.
Stage one would be a 3 hour op to remove it and replace with a plaster version impregnated with slow release antibiotics. An attempt at this stage would be made to realign the Tibia. Hospital stay approx 10 days
Stage 2, 8 weeks at home without weight bearing and a course of intravenous antibiotics, which would mean the insertion of a central veneous catheter again.
Stage 3 back to hospital, removal of temporary implant and fitting of the new one with final tibial realignment, 10 days.
Stage 4 recoverey - approx 4 - 6 months.!
Well I've given up any idea of playing golf again in the near future, but they tell me that I do not need this op until I want it, which at the moment is some time never, but be assured they said, the infection will flare up again and at which point I will be begging for it. - So we'll just wait and see.