| India is a prime destination for total knee replacement | | | | replacement surgery: |
| surgery. As health care costs skyrocket, patients in | | | | Before surgery, joints adjacent to the diseased knee |
| the developed world are looking overseas for medical | | | | are carefully evaluated. This is important to ensure |
| treatment. India is capitalizing on its low costs and | | | | optimal outcome from the surgery. Replacing a knee |
| highly trained doctors to appeal to these "medical | | | | joint which is adjacent to a severely damaged joint |
| tourists”. The total knee replacement surgery in | | | | may not yield significant improvement in function. |
| India is not only fast but also costs a fraction of | | | | Furthermore, all medications which the patient is |
| what it costs in USA or Europe. Even tele-consultancy | | | | taking are reviewed. Blood-thinning medications such |
| is available for expert opinion and transmission | | | | as warfarin (Coumadin) and anti-inflammatory |
| facilities. Medical tourism has become a common form | | | | medications such as aspirin may have to be adjusted |
| of vacationing, and covers a broad spectrum of | | | | or discontinued prior to surgery. Excess body weight |
| medical services. Medical tourism mixes leisure, fun | | | | simply puts the replaced knee at an increased risk of |
| and relaxation together with wellness and healthcare. | | | | loosening and dislocation. |
| A total knee replacement surgery is a surgical | | | | Procedure of total knee replacement surgery: |
| procedure whereby the diseased knee joint is | | | | The procedure of total knee replacement surgery |
| replaced with artificial material. The knee is a hinge | | | | involves removal of the damaged bone of the knee |
| joint which provides motion at the point where the | | | | joint and replacement with prosthesis or an artificial |
| thigh meets the lower leg. The thigh bone (or femur) | | | | joint made of metal alloys, high grade plastics and |
| abuts the large bone of the lower leg (tibia) at the | | | | polymers. During the surgery, the knee is kept in |
| knee joint. During a total knee replacement surgery, | | | | bent position so that the surface of the knee is fully |
| the end of the femur bone is removed and replaced | | | | exposed. An incision of 6-12 inches is made after |
| with a metal shell. The end of the lower leg bone | | | | which the muscles, kneecap and connective tissues |
| (tibia) is also removed and replaced with a channeled | | | | are moved aside to expose the damaged joint |
| plastic piece with a metal stem. Depending on the | | | | surface. After smoothening the bone's rough surface, |
| condition of the kneecap portion of the knee joint, a | | | | the prosthesis is inserted. |
| plastic "button" may also be added under the | | | | The postoperative period of total knee replacement |
| kneecap surface. | | | | surgery: |
| What patients are ideal for the total knee | | | | A total knee replacement generally requires between |
| replacement surgery? | | | | one and a half to three hours of operative time. |
| Total knee replacement surgery is considered for | | | | After total knee replacement surgery, patients are |
| patients whose knee joints have been damaged by | | | | taken to a recovery room, where vital organs are |
| progressive arthritis, trauma, or other rare | | | | frequently monitored. When stabilized, patients are |
| destructive diseases of the joint. Regardless of the | | | | returned to their hospital room. Physical therapy is an |
| cause of the damage to the joint, the resulting | | | | extremely important part of rehabilitation and requires |
| progressively increasing pain and stiffness and | | | | full participation by the patient for optimal outcome. |
| decreasing daily function lead the patient to consider | | | | Patients can begin physical therapy 48 hours after |
| total knee replacement. | | | | surgery. Some degree of pain, discomfort, and |
| | | | stiffness can be expected during the early days of |
| Risks of total knee replacement include blood clots, in | | | | physical therapy. Knee immobilizers are used in order |
| the legs that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary | | | | to stabilize the knee while undergoing physical |
| embolism). Pulmonary embolism can cause shortness | | | | therapy, walking and sleeping. |
| of breath, chest pain and even shock. | | | | Why to consider India? |
| The preoperative evaluation for total knee | | | | |