How Knee Surgery in India Can Restore Your Normal Activities

How Knee Surgery in India Can Restore Your Normal Activities

For someone whose knee is sore and creaky, the prospect of replacing it with a new, metal-andplastic version of the joint can be beguiling. The surgery seems so easy and to promise so much: better mobility, less pain, an approximation, almost, of youth. There's no doubt that knee replacements are increasingly popular. Many patients seek out knee surgery clinics outside of the US and one of the more popular destinations is India — since the turn of the century, the country as a whole has made major medical strides in hospital procedures, in-house equipment and regulation/oversight of lead surgeons and their staff. New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Pune, Gurgaon, Chennai and Aurangabad are home to the best clinics in India.

Knee surgery overview

If your doctor suggests knee surgery as a treatment for your injury or arthritis of the knee, you may feel a little scared and unsure about what’s likely to happen to you. Relax. Getting the right information and knowing the options can help you approach your impending treatment in a calm, unstressed state of mind. All orthopedic surgeries carry a risk of complications. Happily, orthopedic surgeons can, on average, boast high success rates for their patients. After knee arthroscopy, for example, more than 80 % of patients return to walking and other light activity within one week.

Knee surgery types

• Arthroscopy
• Meniscectomy
• Meniscus Repair
• Lateral Release
• Plica Excision
• Meniscus Transplant
• Microfracture Surgery
• ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) Reconstruction
• Patellar/Quadriceps Tendon Repair
• Knee Replacement

Knee replacement surgery

The most common reason for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis. Other conditions that cause knee damage include rheumatoid arthritis, hemophilia, meniscus tears, post trauma, ligament tears, cartilage defects. The advantages of knee replacement surgery include freedom from pain, improved mobility, improved quality of life because everyday activities and exercise are easier.

Knee replacement is a surgical procedure in which those parts of the knee joint affected and destroyed by arthritis are replaced with artificial metal or plastic parts called “prostheses”. There are two different types of knee replacement procedures a doctor may recommend:

1. Partial Knee Replacement, also called uni-compartmental replacement, is performed when X-ray and MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) results tell the surgeon only one side of the knee is damaged. Because one side of the knee is being replaced, a small incision may be used, referred to as “minimally invasive” surgery.

Partial Knee Replacement is not usually considered for active or heavy people because they can put too much stress on the implant.

2. Total Knee Replacement (arthroplasty) involves the relining of the joint (bone end surfaces) with artificial parts called prostheses. It may be recommended if one suffer from severe arthritis in the knee to alleviate pain and to improve the ability to walk.

There are three components used in the artificial knee:

• The femoral (thigh) component is made of metal and covers the end of the thigh bone.
• The tibial (shin bone) component, made of metal and polyethylene (medical-grade plastic), covers the top end of the tibia.
• The patella (kneecap), may be all polyethylene or a combination of metal and polyethylene.

A knee replacement surgery can be unilateral (involving one side or single side) or bilateral (involving both sides, double side or two sides).

Prosthetic implants vary greatly by design, fixation and materials. The choice of implant will ultimately be made by your surgeon, based upon your physical situation, your age and lifestyle, the surgeon’s experience and the level of trust he or she has with a specific piece of equipment and/or manufacturer.

Knee joint replacement

The knee is the largest joint in the body and it is also one of the most complex. The knee joint is made up of four bones, which are connected by muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

The procedure of knee joint replacement is called a total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and involves replacing the existing knee joint with a manmade one. Orthopedic surgeons replace knee joints to end pain, stiffness, and loss of function. Both chronic osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis commonly cause people to lose knee function and damage the joint to the degree that they need a knee joint replacement.

During knee joint replacement surgery, the damaged parts of the knee joint are removed and components (prosthesis) are then placed in the knee. The three areas involved are lower end of the thighbone (femur), upper end of the shinbone (tibia), behind the kneecap (patella).

The prosthesis will have both metal and plastic parts. Some newer prostheses now are made of metal on metal, ceramic on ceramic, or ceramic on plastic. The surgery lasts about two hours and involves an incision over your knee.

A renowned surgeon to successfully perform all four major joint replacement surgeries - shoulder, elbow, hip, knee is Dr. Narendra Vaidya in India, who has performed more than 30,000 orthopaedic surgeries. He is a consultant for Middle East and East African countries and the pioneer of Trauma and EMS in India.

Medical tourism in India

There are several reasons why so many are seeking orthopedic surgery in India - the quality of treatment, the array of available treatments, a very reasonable price range, excellent orthopedic solutions through safe medicine. Offering some of the best medical treatment in the world and with the excellent reputation of its private hospitals, India’s health care sector has undergone an enormous boom in recent years and it has become a global health destination.

A number of specialist orthopedic surgeons in India have made their mark across the world. The orthopedic centers in India bring focus to patient-centered care, interdisciplinary medicine, modern infrastructure, cutting edge technology and investigative research. You will receive top-notch treatment and the benefits of skilled surgeons and staff dedicated to getting patients back on their feet.

How much does knee surgery cost in India?

While the price will vary by season, hospital and general demand, expect to pay close to the following:

• Partial Knee Replacement: $4,000
• Total Knee Replacement: $7,000
• Knee Joint Replacement – Single - $4,400
• Knee Jt Replacement – Bilateral - $8,400
• Meniscal Repair, Menistectomy – $1,800 each
• ACL/PCL Reconstruction - $2,400

Roughly, 1/5th of the price you’ll find in the U.S. (without insurance).

Remember, you still need to travel there and stay in a hotel (preferably close to the clinic), so budget an additional $1,500 or so. Most clinics offer special flight and hotel accommodation packages for their patients, so you may be able to dramatically reduce that cost.

Pune based Lokmanya Hospital offers unique and complete medical packages that includes pick and drop facility for patients and company family members from the airport/hotels. Lokmanya have tie up with leading hotels / airlines and transfer services. It also provides accommodation facility for a family member until their relative is admitted in hospital, world class medical treatment as per international protocol and recuperation, and it also arranges for vacation / site seeing.

Lokmanya has state of the art medical facilities and specialists in various faculties who are excelled in orthopaedics, cardiac care, surgery, medicine and other disciplines of modern and alternative (holistic) medicine. The hospital has received the NABH Accreditation for best Hospital in emergency medical services in India awarded by CIMS and UBM Medica.

Surgeries Offered

• Knee Replacement
• Hip Replacement
• Shoulder Replacement
• Elbow Replacement
• Nucleoplasty
• Microlumbar Disectomy
• PLDD
• Laminectomy
• Vertebroplasty
• Disc replacement
• Pedicular screw fixation

Dr. Narendra Vaidya is an internationally acclaimed orthopaedic, joint replacement and spine surgeon. He  has performed more than 30,000 orthopaedic surgeries and more than 2,000 spine surgeries at Lokmanya Group, plus more than 5,000 joint replacements in India and abroad. He is a versatile surgeon and the first in Pune to perform all four major joint replacement surgeries - shoulder, elbow, hip and knee on regular basis for more than 20 years.

PlacidWay, a leading medical tourism provider in the US and the world, aims to help the global medical consumer get access to treatment options, medical centers, healthcare providers and even getting second opinions. Its overall aim as an organization is to help a patient get access to care that is affordable yet high quality, safe and effective.