How common are clear-filled fever blisters after a lateral release on a knee?

Question

I had surgery on my left knee about a week and a half ago...and I have 3 blisters on the outside of my knee about 2 inches from the surgical sight. Is this common and what should I do? My doctor didn't seem to worried about it but I get sharp pains sometimes in that same general area? Is it crutial to get treatment or find out if they are fever blisters for sure? I had never heard of them until now. There was one round small blister to begin with and it ruptured the 4th day after my surgery then about 3 to 4 days later the other two showed up about 1 inche from the first and they are only about 1/8 to 1/4 inch away from each other. Please let me know any advice as to what I should do.

Answer 1

Without seeing the lesions themselves, it is very difficult to say what they are, how serious they might be, how to treat them, or if they'll go away.

Possibilities include viral infection (such as herpes simplex), bacterial infection like staphylococcus or streptococcus (the most common bacteria infecting the skin), fungal infection, allergic reaction to some aspect of treatment (like adhesive bandaids) or other chemical exposure (say poison ivy).

If your doctor wasn't too concerned, I would hazard a guess that it doesn't look like a bacterial infection.  If you are wearing bandages, I would consider changing the type of bandages you are wearing to a diferent kind of adhesive and see if that helps.  If you aren't wearing any or it doesn't help, talk to your doctor again or seek a second opinion.