article_snippet: But bacteria can get inside the knee during surgery, causing infection — sometimes years later — leading to inflammation and swelling.
article_snippet: In such cases, surgeons’ only option is to remove the joint, cut away dead tissue, wash out the knee (using saline, to sterilise, or iodine, which has antimicrobial properties) and put in a new joint.
article_snippet: Sometimes, they can put in the replacement knee during the same operation, but this is usually done six to eight weeks later.
article_snippet: In the meantime, the replacement knee is packed with a special ‘cement’, which releases high concentrations of antibiotics to ensure the infection is killed.
article_snippet: Now, surgeons at University Hospital of Wales and Spire Cardiff Hospital hope that bathing the site with vinegar when surgeons at University Hospital of Wales and Spire Cardiff Hospital remove the infected joint means surgeons at University Hospital of Wales and Spire Cardiff Hospital can replace the joint in just one operation.
article_snippet: Eventually, One patient who has benefited was told doctors could remove the infected prosthesis and fuse bones together to keep the leg
article_snippet: Nick London, consultant knee surgeon at Yorkshire Knee Clinic and Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust, says infection in knee replacement surgery is ‘a huge problem, affecting around 1 per cent of patients’.
article_snippet: ‘Revision surgery to replace an infected implant is complex, costing several times more than the initial surgery, and involves longer hospital stays and long antibiotic courses.
article_snippet: ‘Any method of making it more effective is welcome, since revision surgery to eradicate infection can fail in up to 20 per cent of cases.
article_snippet: Mr Morgan-Jones is planning to use sterile medical honey, Surgihoney, in revision surgery to replace an infected knee joint.
highlights_snippet: Bacteria can get inside the knee during surgery, causing infection .
  
highlights_snippet: Bathing   with vinegar means surgeons can replace  joint in one operation .
  