Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery Cost In India

How much does Knee Replacement Surgery cost in India?

The estimated cost of knee replacement surgery In India usually starts $4000 however, it may go up to as much as $8000. it depends on the hospital charges and the fee charged by the orthopedic surgeon. This price usually does not cover the post-operational physiotherapy program. Additional costs also involve the diagnostics before the surgery and pre-operational consultations.

Knee replacement surgery — also known as knee arthroplasty (ARTH-row-plas-tee) — can help relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. The procedure involves cutting away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replacing it with an artificial joint (prosthesis) made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers.

In determining whether a knee replacement is right for you, an orthopedic surgeon assesses your knee’s range of motion, stability and strength. X-rays help determine the extent of damage.

Your doctor can choose from a variety of knee replacement prostheses and surgical techniques, considering your age, weight, activity level, knee size and shape, and overall health.

Reasons for the procedure

Knee replacement surgery is a treatment for pain and disability in the knee. The most common condition that results in the need for knee replacement surgery is osteoarthritis.

Osteoarthritis is characterized by the breakdown of joint cartilage. Damage to the cartilage and bones limits movement and may cause pain. People with severe degenerative joint disease may be unable to do normal activities that involve bending at the knee, such as walking or climbing stairs, because they are painful. The knee may swell or “give-way” because the joint is not stable.

Other forms of arthritis, such as rheumatoid arthritis and arthritis that results from a knee injury, may also lead to degeneration of the knee joint. In addition, fractures, torn cartilage, and/or torn ligaments may lead to irreversible damage to the knee joint.

If medical treatments are not satisfactory, knee replacement surgery may be an effective treatment. Some medical treatments for degenerative joint disease may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Anti-inflammatory medications
Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate
Pain medications
Limiting painful activities
Assistive devices for walking (such as a cane)
Physical therapy
Cortisone injections into the knee joint
Viscosupplementation injections (to add lubrication into the joint to make joint movement less painful)
Weight loss (for obese persons)

There may be other reasons for your doctor to recommend a knee replacement surgery.

Symptoms of knee replacement Surgery

Difficulty in performing basic activities.
Decrease in the Range of Motion.
Difficulty in Climbing Stairs.
Your pain persists or recurs over time.
Medication and using a cane aren’t delivering enough relief.
You feel pain in rainy weather.
The pain prevents you from sleeping.
You feel a decrease in knee motion or the degree to which you’re able to bend your knee.
Your knees are stiff or swollen.
You have difficulty walking or climbing stairs.
You have difficulty getting in and out of chairs and bathtubs.
You experience morning stiffness that typically lasts less than 30 minutes (as opposed to stiffness lasting longer than 45 minutes, a sign of an inflammatory condition called rheumatoid arthritis)
You feel a “grating” of your joint
You’ve had a previous injury to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) of your knee.

Type of Knee Replacement Surgery

Total Knee Replacement Surgery

It is the most common procedure. In this type of surgery involves the replacement of both sides of the knee joint. Knee replacement, also known as “Knee Arthroplasty” or “Total knee replacement”. In this surgery metal and plastic parts are used to cap the end of the bone that for a knee joint. This surgery is considered to the patient who has severe arthritis or a severe knee injury.

Partial knee replacement Surgery

The partial knee replacement involves only replacing the side of your knee that’s damaged or arthritis. The advantage of this approach is that less bone is removed so the incision is smaller. it causes less pain during recovery than thus tend to have a faster recovery time than those who have a total knee replacement. However, there is a disadvantage, it does not last as long as a total replacement.

Bilateral knee replacement Surgery

In this procedure knee replacement surgery is the replacement of both of your knees at the same time. The advantage of this replacement procedure is that you have to go through this procedure and recovery process once if both of your knees are affected.

Benefits of Knee replacement surgery?

Pain Relief:

When arthritic joint surfaces are re-surfaced as in the case of a knee replacement; implants made of a combination of metal and high density polyethylene plastic are fixed onto the prepared surfaces. Since the original, arthritis-laden joint surfaces have been removed and replaced with metallic and plastic materials, the original joint pain, caused by the exposed bone, no longer exists. This gives the patient a considerable reduction or even elimination of pain.

Improved Mobility:

When the joint anatomy is rough and irregular secondary to advanced arthritis, the ability of the joint to move smoothly is limited. Frequently, overall range of motion can be severely limited due to joint surface irregularity as well as the presence of excessive fluid production. Total knee replacement can largely restore range of motion.

Improved Quality of Life:

When a person is no longer burdened by chronic, debilitating pain and joint motion has been vastly improved, the quality of life is improved as well. Most patients visiting a surgeon’s office for consideration of a knee joint replacement have endured longstanding pain and functional impairment. A successful joint replacement can return the patient to leading a normal life.

Risks of Knee Replacement surgery?

As with any surgical procedure, complications can occur. Some possible complications may include, but are not limited to, the following:

Bleeding
Infection
Blood clots in the legs or lungs
Loosening or wearing out of the prosthesis
Fracture
Continued pain or stiffness

The replacement knee joint may become loose, be dislodged, or may not work the way it was intended. The joint may have to be replaced again in the future.

Nerves or blood vessels in the area of surgery may be injured, resulting in weakness or numbness. The joint pain may not be relieved by surgery.

There may be other risks depending on your specific medical condition. Be sure to discuss any concerns with your doctor prior to the procedure.

Before the procedure

Your doctor will explain the procedure to you and offer you the opportunity to ask any questions that you might have about the procedure.

You will be asked to sign a consent form that gives your permission to do the procedure. Read the form carefully and ask questions if something is not clear.

In addition to a complete medical history, your doctor may perform a complete physical examination to ensure you are in good health before undergoing the procedure. You may undergo blood tests or other diagnostic tests.

Notify your doctor if you are sensitive to or are allergic to any medications, latex, tape, and anesthetic agents (local and general).

Notify your doctor of all medications (prescribed and over-the-counter) and herbal supplements that you are taking.

Notify your doctor if you have a history of bleeding disorders or if you are taking any anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medications, aspirin, or other medications that affect blood clotting. It may be necessary for you to stop these medications prior to the procedure.

If you are pregnant or suspect that you are pregnant, you should notify your doctor.

You will be asked to fast for eight hours before the procedure, generally after midnight.

You may receive a sedative prior to the procedure to help you relax.

You may meet with a physical therapist prior to your surgery to discuss rehabilitation.

Arrange for someone to help around the house for a week or two after you are discharged from the hospital.

Based on your medical condition, your doctor may request other specific preparation.

During Procedure

Knee replacement requires a stay in a hospital. Procedures may vary depending on your condition and your doctor’s practices.

Knee replacement surgery is most often performed while you are asleep under general anesthesia. Your anesthesiologist will discuss this with you in advance.

Generally, knee replacement surgery follows this process:

You will be asked to remove clothing and will be given a gown to wear.

An intravenous (IV) line may be started in your arm or hand.

You will be positioned on the operating table.

A urinary catheter may be inserted.

If there is excessive hair at the surgical site, it may be clipped off.

The anesthesiologist will continuously monitor your heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, and blood oxygen level during the surgery.

The skin over the surgical site will be cleansed with an antiseptic solution.

The doctor will make an incision in the knee area.

The doctor will remove the damaged surfaces of the knee joint and resurface the knee joint with the prosthesis. The knee prosthesis is made up of metal and plastic. The most common type of artificial knee prosthesis is a cemented prosthesis. Uncemented prostheses are not commonly used anymore. A cemented prosthesis attaches to the bone with surgical cement. An uncemented prosthesis attaches to the bone with a porous surface onto which the bone grows to attach to the prosthesis. Sometimes, a combination of the 2 types is used to replace a knee.

The prosthesis is generally comprised of 3 components: the tibial component (to resurface the top of the tibia, or shin bone); the femoral [thigh bone] component (to resurface the end of the thighbone; and the patellar component (to resurface the bottom of the kneecap that rubs against the thighbone).

The incision will be closed with stitches or surgical staples.

A drain may be placed in the incision site to remove fluid.

A sterile bandage or dressing will be applied.

After the procedure

You’ll be taken to a recovery room for one to two hours. You’ll then be moved to your hospital room, where you’ll likely stay for a couple of days. Medications prescribed by your doctor should help control pain.

During the hospital stay, you’ll be encouraged to move your foot and ankle, which increases blood flow to your leg muscles and helps prevent swelling and blood clots. You’ll likely receive blood thinners and wear support hose or compression boots to further protect against swelling and clotting.

You’ll be asked to do frequent breathing exercises and gradually increase your activity level.

The day after surgery, a physical therapist will show you how to exercise your new knee. After you leave the hospital, you’ll continue physical therapy at home or at a center.

Do your exercises regularly, as instructed. For the best recovery, follow all of your care team’s instructions concerning wound care, diet and exercise.

Result

For most people, knee replacement provides pain relief, improved mobility and a better quality of life. And most knee replacements can be expected to last more than 15 years.

Three to six weeks after surgery, you generally can resume most daily activities, such as shopping and light housekeeping. Driving is also possible at around three weeks if you can bend your knee far enough to sit in a car, if you have enough muscle control to operate the brakes and accelerator, and if you’re not still taking narcotic pain medications.

After recovery, you can engage in various low-impact activities, such as walking, swimming, golfing or biking. But you should avoid higher impact activities — such as jogging, skiing, tennis and sports that involve contact or jumping. Talk to your doctor about your limitations.

Frequently Asked Questions About Knee Replacement Surgery

Q. Is knee replacement surgery successful in India?

A. Knee replacement surgery is beneficial in relieving pain and restoring your lost disabilities. It has a 95% success rate.

Q. What is the best age for knee replacement surgery?

A. Generally speaking, joint replacements are performed on patients between 60 and 80 years of age, and most are women. But those older or younger are not automatically precluded.

Q. What is the alternative to knee replacement surgery?

A. The first alternative to knee surgery most physicians try is lifestyle modification. This may include weight loss; avoiding activities such as running and twisting, which can aggravate the knee injury; modifying exercise to no- and low-impact; and other changes in your daily routine to reduce stress on your knee

Q. What happens if you don’t have knee replacement?

A. A report published today in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery found that delaying surgery can deprive patients of the surgery’s full benefits. But when surgery is done too soon, patients put themselves at risk and may wind up needing another replacement.

Q. When should a person undergo knee replacement surgery?

A. Doctor will be able to decide if you are a candidate for the surgery or not. The decision will be based on the patient’s history, examination, X-rays and response to conservative treatment.