Knee Replacement Surgery in India

Knee replacement surgery is a major operation that requires anesthesia. It is a type of surgery that is used to restore the original functions of damaged knee ligaments. It involves removing the damaged part and replacing it with an artificial joint formed of metal or plastic. But even though it’s a surgical procedure, knee replacement surgery is the best solution for patients who have advanced osteoarthritis (OA) and have become disabled from their joint problems.

The knee joint is the largest weight-bearing compartment in the body and has to withstand huge forces when you are walking, running, or jumping. Knee replacement surgery has several advantages over other types of joint replacement, including reduced risk of infections, better patient outcomes, recovery time is earlier, and long-time medication is reduced.

You can read this article about knee Replacement types, and procedures, including risks, recovery time, aftercare, and cost.

Fig: Human Knee Anatomy

Source

Types of Knee Replacement Surgery

According to the type of knee injury, Knee Replacement Surgery may be differentiated into four categories as follows:

Total Knee Replacement Surgery

Partial Replacement Surgery

Knee Cap Replacement Surgery

Complex Knee Replacement Surgery

• Total Knee Replacement Surgery:

There are four types of Knee Replacement Surgery. The most common surgery is total knee replacement surgery that involves replacing the joint surfaces at the end of your femur bones and the top of your tibia bone.

Sometimes, a knee replacement may also involve replacing the underside of your kneecap (patella) with a plastic dome. Some surgeons prefer to keep the natural patella, but it can be removed during the operation.

• Partial Knee Replacement Surgery:

If arthritis affects only one side of your knee, mainly the inner side, partial knee replacement surgery can be performed.

It is carried out through a smaller incision cut using a procedure known as reduced invasive or minimally clinical surgery. The recovery time may be further reduced.

• Knee Cap Replacement Surgery:

A knee cap replacement only involves replacing the underside of the kneecap and its groove (the trochlea) if arthritis has infected these areas. Knee Cap surgery is known as patellofemoral joint arthroplasty.

Because the operation has a higher failure rate than total knee replacement surgery, because of advancing arthritis in another part of the knee. Some surgical doctors advise total knee replacement surgery. If your knee joint isn’t damaged, retaining the rest of it might be better than preserving it if it is affected by arthritis.

• Complex Knee Replacement Surgery:

If your arthritis is particularly severe or you’ve already had two or more knee replacements, then you’ll need a complex knee operation.

The stem of these knee replacements is usually longer so that the component may be more securely anchored in the cavity of the bone. The hinge mechanism can also be created at the center of the knee by interlocking the components.

Why Knee replacement is required

The most significant reason why people choose knee replacement surgery is because of osteoarthritis (the most common type of arthritis that affects people around the world), which mainly occurs due to aging. The cartilage cushion between the bones and knees is degraded as age progresses.
Some other reasons like:

• Rheumatoid arthritis mostly occurs when your body’s immune system destroys the lining of the knee in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.
• Deformities Surgery People with bowed legs may have their knee position restored using Deformities Surgery.
• Knee injuries: If you are suffering from a broken bone ligament around the knee, you will be in terrible pain and be unable to move very much.

Risk and Complication of knee replacement surgery

A complication in knee replacement:

The infected person may be about 2%.

A blood clot forms in the lung when a pulmonary embolism occurs.

A loss of function caused by damage to the nerves

Constant discomfort or ache

If you find any complication according to this or any you experience, you must consult your doctor or surgeon immediately.

Procedure for Knee Replacement Surgery

Pre-admission procedure:

Before the surgery, you will go through the different stages of examination and you are generally well enough, from anesthetic to operation. Stages include:

blood tests to check for anemia and to make sure your kidneys are functioning properly

Taking a urine sample to rule out infection is usually required.

MRSA swab to check that you are not carrying any resistant bacteria

ECG tracing to make sure the heart is healthy

Other than this clinical examination, some general instructions are also required to be followed, such as:

Arrange someone from your family members to carry out all the guidelines before surgery to discharge.

Proper medication is followed out before the operation.

Get in touch with a physical therapist before your surgery to discuss rehabilitation etc.,

Admitted to the hospital for surgery:

On the day of surgery, you will provide with a consent form to move forward with the operation. Besides this, some general processes will be followed:

You will be placed on the operating table.

An intravenous (IV) line will be inserted into your arm or hand.

A urinary catheter may be inserted

An anesthesiologist will be monitoring your blood pressure, heart rate, and blood oxygen while the surgery is going on.

After your surgery is completed, the incision will be closed with stitches.

Then the bandage will be applied.

After the Surgery:

In the Hospital:

You will be taken to the recovery room after the surgery to monitor your blood pressure, pulse, and breathing. Once they are stable and you’re awake, you will be taken to your hospital room. Most knee replacement surgeries require a stay of several days.

After any joint surgery, it is very important to meet a physical therapist for your movement and knee exercises. To begin your exercises, you can use a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine. It will be painful for the initial days, but you have to continue to do that. Because you can relieve your pain through medication also.

At Home:

Once you have been discharged, you have to be more careful with your surgical area. That

It must be clean and dry.

follow properly the bathing instructions given by the doctor

changing your surgical staples while following up on office visits

Notify your doctor if you have any symptoms like fever, redness or swelling around the incision site, etc.

Fig: Anatomy of Knee Replacement Surgery

Alternatives of Knee Replacement Surgery

Before you go for surgery, most doctors refer patients to take medication. The medication like:

Proper diet to be followed

Exercise must be there in your daily tasks like swimming, walking, or cycling.

You can also consume drugs (as prescribed) that can relieve your joint pain.

If your knee is swollen, you are advised to consume non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) if your doctor has prescribed them to you.

I have mentioned some important medications to follow. It is not sure that they will give you the desired good results for your knee pain. However, it can delay your surgery for some years.

Recovery after Knee Replacement Surgery

• Rest

Knee Replacement surgery cost in India

The cost of knee replacement surgery in India varies between Rs. 1,50,000 to Rs. 3,80,000 which is quite low compared to western countries.

Here is the list of some important cities where you can look for knee replacement surgery costs in India:

Cost comparisons with some other countries:

However, there are some estimated costs for knee replacement surgery all over India and the world. But, it depends upon various factors, like surgery, implants, hospital charges, etc.

Best Hospital and clinics in India for Knee Replacement Surgery

Knee replacement surgery brings great relief from several knee pain in day-to-day life. After surgery, it gives new life to our arthritis problems. Here we have gathered some of the most highly recommended hospitals that you can look for before your knee replacement operation.

1. Fortis Hospital, Mumbai
2. Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai
3. Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi
4. BLK Super Specialty Hospital, Delhi
5. Colombia Asia Referral Hospital, Bangalore
6. Apollo Hospital, Greams Road, Chennai.

Why do most people prefer to be treated in India?

An increasing number of patients from overseas have been having knee surgery in India over the past few years.

They find the best hospitals and the finest knee replacement surgeons in India here, as well as the finest medical services. They can offer you world-class treatment at an affordable cost.

Here are some reasons why overseas patients prefer India:

Doctors: In India, doctors are experienced at performing different critical surgeries.

Less Cost: As compared to developed countries like Turkey and Australia, patients find more affordable, highly cost-effective knee replacement surgery in India.

Less waiting time: Because we have so many technologically advanced orthopedic hospitals and surgeons, waiting times are usually short.

Government norms: To ensure that medical tourism is safe and easy for international patients, the Indian government has strict regulations and policies.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What are the materials used in knee implants?

The materials used in knee implants are cobalt-based chromium metal and Titanium cobalt.

Cobalt chromium metal is a sturdy metal used in the femoral component as there is a lot of traction in the femoral part.

Titanium cobalt is an elastic soft metal used in the tibial component where plastic insert locks in.

• How many days do I need to stay in the hospital for knee surgery?

You are expected to stay in the hospital for 20 + days for knee surgery.

• When should I have to get admitted to the hospital for the surgery?

On the evening or night before the surgery, examine whether your body is fit for the surgery.

• How long did the surgery last?

The surgical procedure takes 50 mins to 1 hour. However, for certain procedures after surgery, it is kept inside the operating room for two- to two and half hours.

• How painful is the surgery?

For the first 2 days, there will likely be a pain. You should not be concerned or surprised about that. Mostly the knee pain is due to an incision or dissection. You will be given strong drugs through IV which will make you feel better.

• After knee surgery, what do most commonly do people experience?

Mostly you will experience knee stiffness, which makes it difficult to sit, go down the stairs, or get out of the car.

• What must you do after the surgery?

After the surgery, it sits straight pointed ahead,  knees must be stretched out, not bent inside the chair or something. Avoid using low-sitting chairs.

• What are the symptoms of knee replacement failure?

The most common sign of failure in knee replacement is a decrease in joint function, knee instability, pain and swelling, and stiffness.

• Should I have to worry about anesthesia?

It is very rare to have severe complications resulting from any type of anesthesia. But, any surgery done with anesthesia is a risk. We should not worry about that because the anesthesia team will present you there to give you the best suitable option for your knee surgery.

• How long will the knee joint last?

The artificial joint will last a lifetime, but it can tear over time. The more activity you do on the joint, the more likely the device is going to wear out. While this may not be an issue for most people, if you plan on staying in the same job for a long time, or if there’s a high likelihood of you changing jobs in the future, then it may be worth looking into possible replacements for your device.

Conclusion

Knee replacement (also known as knee arthroplasty and knee replacement surgery) is a major operation that requires general anesthesia. It is a procedure that is used to restore the original functions of a damaged knee joint. This involves removing the damaged part and replacing it with an artificial joint made of metal or plastic. The knee is the largest weight-bearing compartment in the body and has to withstand huge forces when you walk, run, or jump. Implanted knee replacements have several advantages over other types of joint replacement including reduced risk of infections, better patient outcomes, earlier recovery time, and reduced need for long-term medications. The surgery is performed through a relatively small incision that is made in the front of the knee, where the thigh and the shin meet.