Joint Replacement India Surgery related questions:

Que.: If I'm overweight, should I try to lose weight before the surgery?
Answer: Weight is an important factor in the longevity of a joint replacement. The closer one is to their ideal body weight, the less stress they put on their joint over the years. Excess weight can make recovery from surgery more difficult and can decrease the patient’s mobility. Only your orthopaedic surgeon can decide if you should loose weight before having joint replacement surgery. However, it is often difficult to lose weight prior to surgery if you have significant arthritis and are unable to exercise because of the arthritis. Therefore, you may want to discuss formulating a weight loss plan with your primary care physician after your recovery from joint replacement surgery.

Que.: How long will the surgery last?
Answer: The time in surgery depends on your condition and on the complexity of your procedure. Usually, hip replacement surgery requires approximately two hours of operative time. You will be in the recovery room one to two hours following the surgery and in the holding area prior to surgery an hour or two. This can make patients feel like they are in surgery for six or so hours, but in reality operative time is closer to two hours.

Que.: What's the difference between a cemented and a cement less hip?
Answer: There are two ways surgeons can affix the hip implants to the bone. One way is to use an acrylic bone cement to hold the implants in the bone. This is called a cemented hip implant. The other way is to implant the hip replacement without cement, the so-called "cement less" implants. These devices may have a porous metal coating or a chemical coating to which bone will attach and secure the implant. Many surgeons will use both types of implants depending on the individual patient's condition and other factors. Your surgeon should be able to discuss his or her preference for you and why this is the optimal treatment option for you.

Question:  Am I a candidate for resurfacing surgery?
Answer: If you suffer from severe arthritis and if you are a active person, you may be a candidate. If you have been advised total hip replacement at a later date by an orthopeadic and have severe symptoms presently , you are likely to benefit greatly. The first step is to get your x-rays and medical history to the surgeon for him to assess suitability

Question: How many Surgeries have the BHR specialists in India performed so far?
Answer: As an example say Dr. Bose has performed more than 640 resurfacing surgeries till date. And Dr. Pispati has performed more than 350 resurfacing surgeries till date.

Question:  What is the age limit for the surgery?
Answer: The chronological age is not an absolute criteria. The physiological age, bone marrow density and the anticipated post surgery activity level of the patients are the deciding factors for the suitability of resurfacing procedure. X-rays must be reviewed by the surgeon to assess technical suitability. The youngest patient to undergo this procedure by Dr. Bose is 14 years old. The oldest male patient was 73 years old and the oldest female patient 70 years old.

Question: Do I need Visa to come to India?
Answer: Yes, you need to apply for a tourist visa at the nearest Indian embassy in your country. Please avoid getting a medical visa as it has additional formalities during your stay in India 

Question: Can a person accompany me during stay in the hospital?
Answer: Yes, one person can stay with the patient in the suite. 

Question: What precautions do I take before the surgery?
Answer: It is advisable to avoid smoking completely. Blood thinners like aspirin and oral contraceptives should also be stopped for a minimum period of a week prior to surgery. NSAIDs like ibuprofen cause bone softening and must be avoided to the maximum extent possible. Paracetmol ( Tylenol) or Proxyvon ( Darvocet ) can be taken as alternative medications for the pain.It is advisable to stay in good shape prior to surgery by good aerobic exercises. However this is a balance and unaccustomed exertion which causes severe pain should be avoided as this will provoke inflammation.

Question: For how many days do I use crutches after the surgery?
Answer: Usually for two to three weeks. But it is variable from patient to patient.

Question: When can I squat or sit on the floor after surgery?
Answer: Usually four to six months after surgery. 

Question: After how many days after the surgery can I drive?
Answer: The time would depend on the side of surgery and whether you are using an automatic or manual car. It varies from three weeks to two months.

Question: Can I swim after the surgery?
Answer: Yes, at three weeks following surgery. Patients are advised not to swim in the resort or the ocean for the first 3 weeks. This is to avoid wound contamination. However they can shower everyday as a waterproof dressing would be given at discharge. 

Question : When can I go back to work?
Answer: If it is a desk job patients can go back to work three weeks after surgery .For jobs which are physically more demanding the period is likely to be six weeks However if everything is very comfortable they can return to work earlier. 

Question : Will the metal implant in me be detected by the scanner at the airports when I travel by flight?
Answer: Yes, the implant may be detected by metal detectors at the airport. We always provide a letter to cover for this formality.