Joint Replacement Surgery in India

Over the last decade, India has become one of the world’s most reputed destinations for medical value travel. It scores high on a series of factors that determine the overall quality of pre- and post-operative care. Imagine a complicated surgical procedure like joint replacement surgery performed by acclaimed medical specialists in a world-class global hospital at a tenth of what it typically takes in your own country! That’s India. 

The list of advantages of traveling for Joint Replacement Surgery in India is countless, from a range of treatment and procedural options to the quality of therapy and from zero waiting time to state-of-the-art infrastructure and skilled human resources.

Table of Contents

Feel free to skip ahead if one topic catches your eye: 

1. Types of Joint Replacement Surgery in India
2. Why is India a Popular Destination for Joint Replacement Surgery?
3. How to plan a Medical tour to India for Joint Replacement Surgery?
4. What to expect While Considering Joint Replacement Surgery in India?
5. What is the cost of joint replacement surgery in India?

1. Types of Joint Replacement Surgery in India

• Hip Replacement Surgery: Hip replacement surgery may be prescribed to you if your hips have been damaged by a fracture, arthritis, or other conditions. This medical procedure will help you restore your strength and mobility while also enabling you to return to routine activities. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 10-14 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.
• Knee Replacement Surgery: Knee arthroplasty or total knee replacement, Knee Replacement Surgery is a medical procedure for resurfacing a knee damaged by arthritis. It is an excellent choice for patients who have severe knee injury or severe arthritis. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 6-10 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.
• Shoulder Replacement Surgery: Also known as total shoulder arthroplasty, Shoulder Replacement Surgery is a medical procedure to restore mobility and strength in patients with end-stage shoulder arthritis or those affected with a severe shoulder fracture. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 8-12 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.
• Total Elbow Replacement Surgery: Total Elbow Replacement Surgery may be recommended to patients who are affected by health conditions such as posttraumatic arthritis, advanced rheumatoid arthritis, or severe elbow injury. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 10-16 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.
• Wrist Replacement Surgery: Also referred to as wrist arthroplasty, Wrist Replacement Surgery is a medical procedure in which the damaged or diseased joint is replaced by the doctor using a prosthesis (an artificial joint). This procedure is performed for creating a pain-free, stable joint when conservative treatment options have failed. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 6-10 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.
• Ankle Replacement Surgery: Commonly known as Ankle Arthroplasty, Ankle Replacement Surgery is recommended to patients with ankle arthritis. During this procedure, the surgeon will replace the damaged cartilage and bone in the ankle joint to restore mobility and relieve pain in the arthritic ankle joint. The estimated recovery time for this procedure is 6-10 weeks. However, this may vary from patient to patient.

2. Why India is a Popular Destination for Joint Replacement Surgery?

Indian hospitals, doctors, nurses, and support staff are renowned globally for offering personalized care facilities to each patient. All in all, you can always expect to receive flawless and out-of-the-box treatment by highly experienced surgeons and the best medical practitioners.

When you choose Joint Replacement treatment in India, you can be assured of the best pre- and post-operative care by skilled and experienced orthopedic surgeons and physiotherapists. Language is a significant comfort factor that brings thousands of patients from countries like the United States, Germany, Canada, France, Malaysia, and the United Kingdom, to name a few. The Indian medical and health industry is massive. It is empowered by state-of-the-art infrastructure, especially in big Indian cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Chennai, Noida, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, and Thiruvananthapuram.

Facilities- Healthcare systems and medical facilities in India are unmatched and conform to the highest standards of healthcare, technology, and workforce. The country is home to some of the best and internationally accredited hospitals at par or above global averages.

Healthcare specialists in India deploy- cutting-edge technologies- Superior medical technologies and equipment to complement frontier diagnostics and medical procedures. All Indian hospitals and medical facilities invest heavily in safety, hygiene, infrastructure, supportive technology, and operative techniques. This is done to enable faster recovery, continually better outcomes, minimize complications, and reduce hospital stay length. 

The best part is that all recent advancements in the segments of advanced neuro and spinal options, IMRT / IGRT, transplant support systems, radiotherapies or radiation surgery with cyberknife stereotactic options, and robotic surgeries are all accessible to patients visiting the country.

Feeling the pulse- The hospitality and warmth of joint replacement treatment centers in India are significant factors for patients from other countries to choose the country as a healthcare destination. Furthermore, India has the highest percentage of English-speaking population. Leading hospitals in India have dedicated teams of support staff and an international patient desk to reassure hospitality and complete care.

Financial Savings- India is the world’s favorite choice for successful medical treatments and the quality of care. The Indian government has always emphasized that the quality of healthcare and medical services should never be beyond everyone’s financial limitations. The confluence of cost advantage and the highest quality of care is unique to the country. This benefit proves superior, especially when it comes to dreaded diseases where the patients can receive treatments at 1/10th or 1/20th the cost when compared to western countries.

Fast Track – Less Waiting Time- Immediate and quick attention for all medical interventions and surgeries is assured in India. While appointments for a planned treatment in some countries can take about 3 to 6 months, patients can avail of lesser waiting time for such medical procedures in India, be it a neuro-spinal procedure, knee/hip/joint replacements, weight loss surgery, kidney care, heart surgery, cancer treatment, dental or cosmetic surgery, etc.

3. How to plan a Medical tour to India for Joint Replacement Surgery?

Before you plan a medical tour to India for joint replacement surgery, it is important for you to carry important documents such as:

• Scanned copies of your passport and visa
• Your medical reports and hospital letter
• Recommendation from the home country doctor to visit a particular specialized medical center for treatment
• Passport copy of attendant and proof of relationship with attendant
• Your photographs

Preparation for joint replacement surgery

It is important for you to eat a healthy, well-balanced, and nutritious diet to stay in the best shape. It is highly recommended that you quit smoking and alcohol to delay healing and obstruct your treatment. Furthermore, you should stop blood thinners and similar medications. Before the surgery, you must have a word with your doctor who will perform joint replacement surgery in India, so you know everything about the medical procedure, its benefits, and complications (if any).

4. What to expect While Considering Joint Replacement Surgery in India?

Your doctor, who will perform joint replacement surgery in India, may ask you some questions about your general health and fitness. The doctor may recommend physical examinations to monitor blood pressure, diabetes, etc. and perform a blood test, urine test, and a cardiogram.

After Surgery

Once you are in India for joint replacement surgery, you can always be assured of the best pre- and post-operative care from therapists, doctors, nurses and support staff from the moment you arrive in the country to the moment you leave for your country. The doctor and support staff will explain to you in detail about what would be the ideal health and fitness regime that you should be following and things to avoid.

Factors affecting the recovery process

Some of the factors that affect the recovery process associated with Joint Replacement Surgery are:

• Age
• Health condition
• Type of surgery performed
• Body mass index
• Prosthetic material

It is important to note that the recovery time associated with different forms of joint replacement surgeries may differ from one patient to another and the severity of their health condition.

5. What is the cost of joint replacement surgery in India?

The approximate cost of joint replacement surgery in India is Rs. 2-4 lakhs, which is about a fifth or tenth of the cost of joint replacement surgery in western countries like the United States or the United Kingdom. It is important to note here that the cost of joint replacement surgery in India may depend on many factors, including but not limited to the type of surgery to be performed, private or public hospital, the expertise of the surgeon, the kind of facilities at the hospital, etc.

Take Away

It is highly recommended that you perform comprehensive research to make an informed decision when choosing the right joint replacement surgery hospital in India. Undoubtedly, the country is home to some of the world’s finest hospitals and medical facilities, but your research will go a long way to give you the complete peace of mind that you must always emphasize.