Expert: Jack Schroder - 6/17/2009

Question
I HAD A ACL replacement in 1994 ended up with infection at the site outside.  Took antibiotics cleared up.   13 years later, I ended up having a staph infection underneath the screw.  Had emergency surgery to remove it.  now knee feels fine.  no more occasional pain in the bone.  Is there anything I can do, am I entitled to anything or is this just the chance you take with any kind of surgery?

Answer
  Yours is an example of the tenacity of staphyloccocus  aureus. That sneaky pathogen is almost impossible to eradicate. Your 13 year old infection was only in a state of rest. You can not sue anyone because it flared up again. Possibly a minor injury caused this. Sorry, but you have to try again to rid yourself of that bug.

Surgery years ago may have caused the infection, but not only will you never prove this, you will never show that treatment at the time failed. Just too hard after all those yhears. esidses, any statute of limtation s has expired.