Joint replacement, hip resurfacing, hip, knee or elbow surgery using the most advanced keyhole or endoscopic surgery and arthroscopy is accomplished successfully at many hospital locations. They include  Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai, Apollo Specialty Hospital at Chennai, Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai, Manipal hospital in Bangalore. The operation theatres have Laminar Air Flow System ensuring good air supply and an environment free of bacteria, pollen or air-borne dirt.

Dr. Ameet Pispati at Jaslok Hospital, Dr. Chakravarthy at Manipal Hospital, Dr. Kaushal Malhan at Wockhardt Hospital, Dr. Arun Mullaji at Breach Candy Hospital and Dr. Bose at Apollo Speciality Hospital are some outstanding Orthopedic Consultants we are privileged to have in our network.

Some FAQs on Joint replacement, hip resurfacing, hip, knee, and elbow surgery

How is arthritis treated?

Treatment must be tailored to the needs of each individual. There are different treatments for the various types of arthritis, and no two cases are exactly alike. The goals of treatment are: to relieve pain, to maintain joint motion and, to prevent further joint damage

1. Joint Replacement which consists of replacing worn borne ends with artificial ones.
2. Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty can be done in selected patients with Osteoarthritis affecting only half of the joint.

The treatment recommended by your doctor would be to address your unique needs and will depend on the type of arthritis, its severity, and your symptoms. It could include any combination of the following:

Medications:  Many drugs are available to reduce pain and inflammation. Your doctor will discuss with you what may be most appropriate for you.

Physical Therapy: Includes exercises to strengthen muscles for supporting and protecting joints, exercises to maintain range of movement and flexibility of joints, heat or cold treatments for pain relief and use of orthotics if any.

Surgery: If the pain or disability of arthritis cannot be controlled by the above means, there may be a need for one of the following operations.

Arthroscopy: Special instruments are used to look inside the joint through a small opening (keyhole surgery) and remove debris, loose pieces of bone, spurs, and torn menisci. However, this procedure does not replace the cartilage that is damaged or destroyed.

Osteotomy:  This literally means 'the cutting of a bone'. This method is used to change the angle at which the bones forming the joint meet. It is used in younger patients with osteoarthritis affecting only one half of the knee. The operation shifts the body weight onto the better half of the joint thereby relieving pain. However, relief is for a variable period of time depending on the state of the other half of the joint and how soon it begins to wears out.

Synovectomy:  Under this procedure the synovial lining is cut out or removed. It is used in patients with early Rheumatoid Arthritis. It reduces pain and swelling by removing diseased synovium which eats the cartilage.

What is a Joint Replacement?

If you experience arthritis, you may know how painful and debilitating it feels. Joint replacement surgery offers relief from the pain and an improved quality of life.

Remarkable advances have been made in joint replacement technology over the last few years. The materials are long-lasting and durable. The surgical technique has become better. As a result, joint replacement operations are now among the most successful of all surgeries when they are performed by surgeons specially trained and experienced in performing these specialized surgeries.

In this surgery, the damaged bone ends and cartilage are replaced with artificial surfaces. These usually consist of two parts that are shaped like the normal bone ends and designed to restore function and movement like the normal joint while getting rid of pain.

Why is Joint Replacement necessary?

Once cartilage is badly damaged there is no known treatment to make it grow again and function normally. The bare bone ends without cartilage, rub against each other producing pain and later become roughened leading to difficulty in movement. At this stage joint replacement or resurfacing surgery remains the only known choice.

How do I know when I am ready for Joint Replacement?

When all other methods of treatment have been tried and have failed to relieve pain and disability, and when arthritis has affected one’s quality of life, then joint replacement must be considered. You must decide when the time is right for this surgery along with your doctor. You are probably the best judge of when you need an operation - when the pain becomes so chronic, so constant and so crippling that nothing seems to help.

Which joints can be replaced?

The hip and knee joints are most commonly replaced. Worldwide over 500,000 replacement operations are performed each year. Shoulder, elbow and small joints of the hand can also be replaced but this is done less often.

Will the surgery be painful?

With modern choices in anesthesia and medication, pain can be very well controlled during the surgery and afterwards. After the first few days, the need for pain medication reduces considerably and usually there is very little or no pain by the time the patient is ready to leave the hospital.  Remember, in India, your hospital stay will be longer and at less cost to you.  You will be closely monitored for days after your surgery by a team of health experts.