In the United States alone, around one million knee and hip replacement surgeries are performed every year that makes them one of the most common orthopedic procedures. The number of total knee replacement surgeries is estimated to grow to 3.5 million every year by 2030 in the United States alone. This is an important cause of concern due to extremely high healthcare costs in the United States and other countries of the world, patients are trusting India as their preferred medical tourism destination.
Table Of Contents
Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye:
- What is the Procedure for total knee replacement surgery?
- Common risks associated with total knee replacement surgery
- Why do patients prefer India for Total Knee Replacement Surgery?
- Recovery and Success rate of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India
- Cost of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India
Takeaway
- What is the Procedure for total knee replacement surgery?
Total knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty, is recommended by surgeons to patients whose knee joints have been damaged by trauma, arthritis, and other rare joint destructive diseases.
Total knee replacement surgery may be recommended to diagnose and treat knee injuries like:
- Removal of a Baker’s cyst
- Knee joint’s cartilage disorders
- Osteochondral fractures in the knee bones
- Torn anterior or posterior cruciate ligaments
- Torn meniscus (the cartilage between bones of the knee)
- Swollen synovium (the joint lining)
Before the total knee replacement surgery, the surgeon will have a detailed word with the patient so that the patient has a clear and complete understanding of the entire procedure, the pros and cons of the procedure, side effects (if any), the measures to be implemented to prevent or manage side effects associated with the procedure, tips and precautions to follow before the total knee replacement surgery. The surgeon may recommend some diagnostic tests before the surgery to ensure that the patient is in good general and overall health. The patient would be asked to stop consuming medications such as ibuprofen or aspirin or blood thinners at least 2-4 weeks before the total knee replacement surgery. The surgeon or the support team will also advise the patient to abstain from alcohol, nicotine, antidepressants, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs, unless they are essential).
The patient will be asked to avoid eating or drinking for at least 6-12 hours before the total knee replacement surgery. The procedure is performed under regional anesthesia and a few small keyhole incisions are made around the knee area to be treated. The saline water is then pumped inside the knee area to expand it, making it easier for the surgeon and the support team to precisely and clearly view the cause of the problem inside the joint. After these activities, an arthroscope is inserted into one of the incisions to look around the joint through the attached camera.
The surgeon inserts small instruments through another keyhole incision after analysing the exact cause of concern so that corrective actions can be taken. Once the total knee replacement surgery is successfully completed, saline water is drained out from the joint and sutures are used to close the incisions.
- Common risks associated with total knee replacement surgery
The common risks associated with Total knee replacement surgery include chronic pain, stiffness, urinary tract infection, chest pain, infection of the knee, blood clots, and shortness of breath. However, these side effects and risks can be eliminated in the first place itself by choosing a reputed and qualified surgeon with a phenomenally high success rate.
In order to reduce or eliminate the side effects of total knee replacement surgery, it is also important for the patients to abstain from smoking, alcohol, and the medications unless prescribed by the surgeon. Patients should also strictly adhere to the pre-operative tips and precautions as recommended by the surgeon.
- Why do patients prefer India for Total Knee Replacement Surgery?
Total Knee Replacement Surgery could be an expensive surgical procedure in a developed country or a country where healthcare costs are extremely high. On the other hand, India is home to some of the world’s most reputed and successful hospitals that specialise in Total Knee Replacement Surgery. Yet, the cost of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India is highly affordable. For instance, the cost of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India is almost one-fifth or one-tenth of the cost in developed countries such as the United States, Canada, Germany, UAE, and the United Kingdom.
Furthermore, Indian surgeons, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals have an impeccable success rate in handling all types of surgeries, including complex surgical procedures. Also, these hospitals have a dedicated foreign patient desk where you can seek help of any kind.
In addition to these advantages, Indian hospitals are rated very high by global regulatory bodies and the World Health Organisation (WHO) in the context of compassionate care, affordable treatment procedure, pre-and post-operative care, world-class facilities, state-of-the-art infrastructure, and innovative medical practices. Indian hospitals also emphasise heavily on hygiene, sanitisation, and infection control that means you and your health are always in safe hands.
The best thing about choosing India as your preferred medical tourism destination is that you can explore the country after getting healed. The country is home to beautiful wildlife-watching excursions, camps, historic places, tall hills, landscapes, farms, rivers, scenic destination, treks, and cultural diversity.
You will feel blissed to spend some quality time in the backwaters of Kerala or explore the Golden Triangle of Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur wherein you can visit places such as iconic Taj Mahal, Moti Dungri (Lord Ganesha) Temple, Chokhi Dhani, Hawa Mahal, Bahai Temple (Lotus Temple), Ranthambore National Park. You can even plan a trip to beautiful places such as Mathura and Vrindavan where you will find lots of foreigners praying in awe of Lord Krishna. Alternatively, you can plan a trip to Goa or Puducherry and get mesmerised by turquoise waters, golden sand, and swaying palms.
India is a country where treatments are relatively affordable and travelling to even distant parts of the country will not put a hole in your pocket. Moreover, Indians are known for their hospitality and you just cannot miss out on the amazingly delicious variety of cuisine that India has to offer. From a happy-to-help stranger to an ever-smiling face, there are countless reasons to explore India after your Total Knee Replacement Surgery.
- Recovery and Success rate of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India
It is important while undergoing Total Knee Replacement Surgery to continue in an outpatient physical therapy program for an optimal outcome. Moreover, patients should perform home exercises as suggested by the surgeon or a medical professional after the Total Knee Replacement Surgery. The patient may be asked to consistently continue exercising the muscles around his or her replaced joint for preventing the occurrence of any scarring and maintaining muscle strength for joint stability. These post-surgery exercises can minimise recovery time and result in optimal stability and strength.
Patients should watch for any possible signs of infection, increased swelling, unusual pain, or abnormal redness after the Total Knee Replacement Surgery. In case any severe symptom or side effects are noticed, it must be immediately brought down to the notice of the surgeon or the hospital.
- Patients should avoid sports or running and instead opt for swimming as it improves endurance and muscle strength without exerting any stress or pressure on the replaced joint.
- Patients who have opted for Total Knee Replacement Surgery must always communicate beforehand about the procedure to their doctors and dentists about having an artificial joint. This is primarily because artificial joints are at risk for infection by bacteria that gets introduced by invasive procedures like gum or dental procedures, surgery, or urological and endoscopic procedures.
The success rate of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India is approximately 80 to 87 percent and the approximately recovery time is 6-12 weeks.
- Cost of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India
The approximate cost of Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India is INR 1,50,000-2,40,000. However, it may vary from clinic to clinic as it is dependent on many factors, including but not limited to the type of procedure performed, the expertise and qualifications of the surgeon, the success rate of the clinic, medications, the general and overall health of the patient, etc.
Takeaway
If you need help with a medical visa and how to identify the best hospital for Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India, you can reach out to Medinirvana that is one of the most trusted medical tourism companies in India. Medinirvana can assist you with the entire documentation aspect and will be there from the time you start planning for receiving treatment in India till the time you are back to your home after successfully undergoing Total Knee Replacement Surgery in India.
Leave a Reply