My mother-in-law came down with one of those difficult hospital infections following knee replacement surgery. The infection lodged in the new knee. The replacement joint had to be removed and she was confined to bed in the hospital for a couple of months while they fought the infection. She's now had the second knee replacement and has been told it will be 6-8 weeks before she'll be allowed to walk.

My wife has talked to friends who know of similar situations that have resulted in the patient's being confined to a wheelchair and unable to walk independently again.

Does anyone know if that is a typical result for such cases? My wife's quite fearful that her mother won't walk again and will need to go into a permanent assisted living situation.

Any insights would be helpful.
Thanks.