Knee Replacement – Best Solution for Knee Pain
by IndiCure Health Tours Medical Tourism Company in IndiaKnee 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
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 7th
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)
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Created on May 21st 2019 02:34. Viewed 680 times.