Knee Replacement – Best Solution for Knee Pain

by IndiCure Health Tours Medical Tourism Company in India

Knee Pain and Arthritis

Knee pain can easily ruin many plans. Painful knees can affect your daily activities too. One of the most common causes of knee pain is Arthritis; which not only is the reason for knee pain but also swelling and inflammation.

The three types of arthritis are:

Osteoarthritis, the most common and age-related disease, it causes wear and tear of the knee joint. Patients over 50 years of age are usually affected.
Rheumatoid arthritis, also known as inflammatory arthritis, causes inflammation of the membrane surrounding the knee joint.
Post-traumatic arthritis is caused due to a knee injury. Fractures or ligament tears can damage the cartilage of the knee joint.

Other than arthritis, the conditions that cause knee damage is:

Hemophilia
Gout
Bone Dysplasia
Avascular Necrosis

Everyday activities like walking, climbing stairs or even lying down can get difficult for people suffering from arthritis. Unfortunately, this condition can also lead to disability. Owing to all this, many arthritic patients had lost hope.

But knee replacement has given hope to such people. Not only people undergoing knee replacement live a pain-free life, but they also can resume the activities they had been doing like swimming, playing, cycling, gardening and more.

Knee Replacement – The Surgery

Knee replacement is the surgical repair of the knee joint. The surgery involves the removal of damaged cartilage of the knee joint and replacing it with an implant made up of metal or plastic which ensures proper alignment and functioning of the knee.

The need for knee replacement arises when:

· · The knee joint is damaged to the extent where the individual experiences severe knee pain even while resting.

The nonsurgical treatments such as physical therapy, pain medications, knee braces, or injections fail to work.

Stiffness and swelling reduce the mobility of the knee.

The pain interferes with your daily activities of living

There are three types of knee replacement surgeries:

· Partial knee replacement involves replacing one side of the knee joint

· Traditional total knee replacement involves replacing both sides of the knee joint

· Minimally Invasive knee replacement includes both partial and total knee replacement

Most individuals who choose to undergo this surgery are between the ages of 50 and 80; the average age is 70. Out if which about 60 percent of them are women. Due to its safety and effectiveness, many people opt for this surgery.

Complications/Side-effects of Knee Replacement

Every surgery has complications and so does this surgery. Some of the complications are as follows:

· Infection of the joint replacement
· Deep Vein Thrombosis
· Pulmonary Embolism
· Unexpected bleeding
· Nerve or ligament damage
· Persistent stiffness or pain

In some cases, knee replacement can fail. One of the most significant causes is wearing out of the implant. This may be due to infection or any injury post surgery. In this case, further surgery is required.

Alternatives to Knee Replacement

Not every time surgery is the first resort. There are alternatives to either avoid knee replacement surgery or postpone. Few of them are as follows:

· Knee Cap/ Knee Braces not only help with the alignment of the knee but also relieve the pain.
· Joint Injections like Corticosteroid and Hyaluronic acid lubricate the joint which decreases pain and inflammation contributing to the proper functioning of the knee.
· Conservative treatment like physical therapy, acupuncture or electrical stimulation can strengthen and stabilize the knee joint.
· Osteotomy can postpone knee replacement. It involves cutting and re-alignment of the shin bone.
· Medications can manage arthritis which can at least delay the need for the surgery.
· Exercises/Physical Activity
Recovery and Rehabilitation After Knee Replacement

Most patients are recommended to stay in the hospital post surgery for inpatient rehabilitation. Usually, physical therapy is started from the day of surgery. The range of motion exercise is incorporated in the regime from the next day.

Most patients take 4-6 weeks to recover and 6-8 weeks to resume to daily work. Generally, in the starting weeks of recovery, the patient will be recommended to use walker or crutches and then gradually walk on their own by the 7^th week.

Patients can bend or flex their knees within 7 to 1o days. Exercises can help with mobility.

Knee Replacement in India

India is the hub for the best orthopedic hospitals which are internationally recognized. Many metropolitan cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, and Chennai offer well-equipped hospitals. Moreover, Indian orthopedic surgeons are highly-qualified and have years of experience.

Such a complete spectrum of orthopedic care helps arthritic patients to experience smooth and successful knee replacement journeys.

Knee Replacement Cost in India

Excellent infrastructure with skilled medical professionals has drawn many arthritic patients from different parts of the world to India. The major reason is cost.

Knee replacement cost in India is two-thirds of the cost in other countries. Have a glance at the cost comparison:

Country	Total Replacement	Partial Replacement
India	$7,000	$4,000
Mexico	$9,000	$5,000
Costa Rica	$12,000	$6,000
Thailand	$15,000	$7,000
Singapore	$17,000	$9,000
US	$35,000	$17,000

Moreover, the medical tour packages in India are cost-saving.

Advancements in Knee Replacement in India

With longer lasting implants, availability of better quality, and greater acceptance of knee replacement surgery; it is estimated that annually over 1, 20,000 knee replacements are performed in India.

Two of the notable advancements in India are:

· Computer navigated knee replacement uses an advanced system with infrared cameras, trackers and highly specialized software.

· Enhanced “fast track” Recovery After Surgery (ERAS), a multi-modal protocol, is a multi-disciplinary care pathway to help patients achieve early recovery.

Routine utilization of these techniques has helped in the reduction of complications during surgery and also improvement in the outcomes.

Success Rate & Safety of Knee Replacement in India

Knee Replacement in India is a successful procedure with a success rate of 95%. The surgery is half a century old in India and the devices used last over a decade. About 85% of artificial knees still work after 20 years.

In India, knee replacements involve shorter hospital stays and lower infection rates. It is also reported that by 2022, the country will be seeing about one million knee replacement surgeries every year.

IndiCure is one of the largest and most renowned medical tourism companies in India offering knee replacement in India in association with the best surgeons and hospitals in India. You can write to us at info@indicure.com or call us at +91-9320036777 (India) or +1-8772702448 (US Toll-Free)