POPULAR QUESTIONS
Do doctors and staff speak my language?”
- Yes, OrthoCareHub (as your preferred healthcare partner) has language translators for more than 15 languages including English, Arabic, Russian, Kurdish, French, Bangla, Kannada, Tamil, Marathi etc. to help establish direct communication between patients and healthcare providers.
How do I manage frequent travel from my hotel o hospital, for My Treatment?
- OrthoCareHub offers all-inclusive treatment packages. This includes things like accommodation arrangements, airport pick-up and drop-off, and transfers to and from the hospital. This means that you don’t have the stress of having to organize all these arrangements yourself. Simply book your flights and we will do the rest.
How does the after surgery stage works and What happens if I have questions when I get home?
- Your treatment journey doesn’t end once you fly back home. Should you have any questions or concerns during the recovery stage, OrthoCareHub's specialist doctors will be available and happy to help you answer them. This will continue all the way through to your successful recovery.
What is the recurrence rate of knee problems after knee replacement?
- Generally, after a successful knee replacement, the patient would not experience any knee-related issues for at least the next 10-15 years. However, by using best technology and most experienced doctors, majority of patients of OrthoCareHub do not face any knee problems for 20-25 years after knee replacement.
How can I choose the best implant for my knee replacement or hip replacement or spine surgery?
- At OrthoCareHub, we truly believe that both doctor and patient are equal partners in decision making including selection of implants. Typically, the choice for a implant depends on various factors such as the patient’s age, type of surgery, health condition, the severity of degeneration, budget, etc. Therefore, at OrthoCareHub, the implant is chosen by the doctor and patient together, following careful consideration.
What type of anesthesia is used for knee replacement?
- OrthoCareHub offers the most advanced surgical and anesthesia techniques, which means majority of patients need only regional anesthesia to make the area numb for Knee replacement surgery. This ensures extremely quick recovery.
For how long shall I need physiotherapy after spine surgery?
- At OrthoCareHub, we follow advanced ERAS (early recovery after surgery) protocols for all our patients. Rehabilitation and physiotherapy for recovery after spine surgery starts within few hours after surgery while you are still admitted in hospital and it continues with home-exercises which are taught during hospital stay. Majority of patients do not need to arrange anything extra in terms of home physiotherapy care for themselves. This helps in both quick return to independent lifestyle.
Can children develop spine problems?
- In rare cases, even children can develop spine disorders. Spinal disorders in children can be both prenatal and postnatal. Some spine problems are present at birth, but as the baby grows, they become more apparent, like congenital scoliosis, while some are diagnosed in a prenatal ultrasound itself, like Like congenital limb deformities and spina bifida. OrthoCareHub has specialist doctors dealing with spine problems in children who treat spine problems for children of all age groups starting from newborns to adolescents.
Can I stop wearing spine belt after spine surgery?
- Yes. You may have to wear a spine belt for a little while after surgery, and in the majority of cases you can stop wearing a brace two weeks after the surgery. This is all made possible by the use of advanced surgical techniques like endoscopy, minimally invasive, robotic and navigation by expert surgeons of OrthoCareHub.
When can I walk after minimally invasive hip replacement?
- Normally, At OrthoCareHub, patients start walking within few hours after minimally invasive hip replacement surgery. This is because we use Early Recovery After Surgery Protocols.
Will I need blood transfusion after hip replacement?
- Earlier when hip replacement was being done with big skin cuts and muscle dissections, patients did need blood after hip replacement surgery. However, at OrthoCareHub, with the use of advanced robotic techniques for hip replacement has resulted in almost zero need for blood transfusion.
What types of arthritis can affect the hip joint?
- There are 3 main types of arthritis that can affect the hip joint: 1) Primary Hip Arthritis due to age related degeneration 2) Secondary Hip Arthritis due to decrease in blood supply of hip joint also known as AVN (avascular necrosis) 3) Inflammatory Hip Arthritis (like Rheumatoid arthritis, Psoriatic arthritis, Ankylosing spondylitis, Systemic lupus erythematosus) due to some abnormality in blood. To ensure best treatment result, doctors at OrthoCareHub do careful clinical, blood and imaging check-up to diagnose the root cause of your problem, before suggesting any treatment plan.
What are the common causes of hip osteoarthritis?
- There is no single specific cause of osteoarthritis, but there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing the disease, such as- 1) Obesity 2) Aging 3) Family history of osteoarthritis 4) Previous injury to the hip joint 5) Developmental dysplasia of the hip joint (a condition in which there is improper formation of the hip joint at birth). To ensure best treatment result, doctors at OrthoCareHub do careful clinical, blood and imaging check-up to diagnose the root cause of your problem, before suggesting any treatment plan.
When can I return to work after a hip bone replacement?
- If your job involves a regular office setting, you might be able to return to work within 2 weeks after your hip replacement. However, if your job requires strenuous work, bending over, walking, a lot of exertion, use of heavy machinery or heavy manual labour, you will be advised to take a 4 weeks off from work. Due to usage of most advanced surgical techniques like MAKO Robot by Hip Specialists at OrthoCareHub, majority of our patients recover more than 90% within 20 days of surgery.
Which method of hip replacement is the best?
- Hip replacement surgery can be performed using conventional technique (without robot) and robotic technique (MAKO Robot). As robotic hip replacement results in more precise fit of implants, more natural alignment of artificial hip and lesser chances of complications, which promotes early recovery and ensures longer life for artificial hips. Risk of infection and postoperative complications is lesser and recovery is faster in case of robotic hip replacements. Hip Replacement Specialists at OrthoCareHub prefer to use the robotic technique because of its high success rate and benefits.
What is the most common complication after hip replacement?
- Hip Replacement is quite a standard procedure with extremely low complication rates and consistently high success rates of more than 99% in the majority of patients. However, a very few patients may face early complications like infections, blood clots in legs, dislocation of hip or later complications like Loosening of the hip joint. However, with the extensive use of MAKO Robotic Technique for hip replacement, the hip specialists at OrthoCareHub have significantly brought down the complication rates.
When will I be able to get out of bed after hip replacement?
- Within 4 hours of your surgery. And this is possible because of usage of advanced surgical techniques like MAKO Robot, Minimally Invasive Surgery and ERAS (early recovery after surgery) protocols by Doctors of OrthoCareHub. As a matter of fact, majority of hip replacement patients become comfortable enough to go to washroom on their own within 16 hours of procedure.
What is the most common hip arthritis?
- Osteoarthritis is the most common type of hip arthritis which is generally due to age related wear and tear of hip joint. Another common cause of hip arthritis is AVN (avascular necrosis) which is generally seen in younger age-group. Another less common cause is DDH (developmental dysplasia of hip). Due to large number of patients with hip arthritis being catered by OrthoCareHub every month, our doctors treat a healthy mix of hip arthritis patients with varied underlying causes.
What are the symptoms of hip osteoarthritis?
- Common symptoms of osteoarthritis of the hip joint are- 1) Hip joint stiffness while getting out of bed or getting up after sitting for a long time 2) Hip pain, swelling, and tenderness 3) A sound or feeling (like crunching) of the bone rubbing against another bone (of the hip joint) 4) Inability to move the hip to perform daily activities such as putting on socks, getting out of a chair, etc.
What is hip hemiarthroplasty?
- Hip hemiarthroplasty is the surgical procedure that replaces only the ball part (femur head) of the hip joint and keeps the original cup (acetabulum) of hip joint. This procedure has proven to be an effective treatment for various types of femoral neck fractures for over 50 years. It is associated with low incidence rates of dislocation and infection. Our specialists at OrthoCareHub carefully explore options of either hemi-arthroplasty or Total Hip Replacement with all the patients and carefully chooses the most suitable option after due consideration.
How long is the incision for hip replacement surgery?
- Hip replacement surgery done by Hip Specialists of OrthoCareHub generally has incision of 6-8 inches. The use of MAKO Robotic technique makes the surgery even less stressful to soft-tissues and muscles around the hip joint.
When do I start rehabilitation after the hip replacement?
- Your rehabilitation and recovery starts within 4 hours of your surgery. And this is possible because of usage of advanced surgical techniques like MAKO Robot, Minimally Invasive Surgery and ERAS (early recovery after surgery) protocols by Doctors of OrthoCareHub. As a matter of fact, majority of hip replacement patients become comfortable enough to go to washroom on their own within 16 hours of procedure. For majority of patients treated by surgeons of OrthoCareHub, the rehabilitation is complete within 28 days of hip replacement surgery.
What are the benefits of robotic hip replacement surgery?
- Benefits of robotic hip replacement include 1) Patient specific anatomical and functional alignment 2) customization of implant positioning 3) higher accuracy rates in preparation of hip bone surfaces 4) lower risk of postoperative complications 5) reduced trauma or injury to adjacent healthy tissues 6) faster recovery and rehabilitation 7) more optimal outcomes. Due to these reasons, both patients and doctors at OrthoCareHub prefer Robotic technique over non-robotic for their surgical procedures.
What is the most commonly performed hip operation?
- Total hip replacement or hip arthroplasty is the most common hip operation performed, worldwide. Over 70,000 hip procedures take place every year in India. The expert team of doctors with OrthoCareHub perform over 5000 hip joint replacements every year.
Is a bloated stomach after hip replacement surgery normal?
- During the hip operation, the patient is given IV (intravenous) fluids to replenish the body’s fluids and balance the sodium levels. The IV fluids can result in some bloating while the body regulates its fluid levels after the surgery. It can cause mild discomfort to patients. However, with the use of ERAS protocols for quick recovery, all the patients are stringently monitored and their fluid intake is closely titrated to their needs, which results in less than 0.01% patients of OrthoCareHub experiencing any kind of stomach bloating after surgery.
How does a care coordinator help a patient at Orthocarehub?
- OrthoCareHub's professionally trained multi-lingual care coordinators are the most important link between patients and doctors. During the first interaction, they call the patient to understand their problems/concerns and collect relevant medical information/reports from them. Then, they collate all the patient details in a file and present it to relevant specialist for expert medical opinion. During this process, if the patient or doctor requires a video consultation is also setup by the care coordinator. Once the most suitable treatment plan is advised by the doctor, the OrthoCareHub's care coordinators communicate it to the patient and also connect with them again to alleviate any concerns they may have with regards to treatment or arrangements required for the treatment. Once the patient is ready to receive the medical care, the coordinator helps them by arranging travel documents, airport pick-ups, accommodation near hospital, daily travel to and from hospital, doctor consultations, hospital admissions, discharges, follow-ups and airport drops. In total, the trained professional care coordinators of OrthoCareHub act as single point of contact between patients and medical facilities, ensuring stress-free treatments.
Does OrthoCareHub provide any emergency surgical treatment?
- No, OrthoCareHub does not attend to any kind of emergency surgeries or treatments. OrthoCareHub only provides elective surgical care, i.e; surgeries that are scheduled in advance because it does not involve a medical emergency.
Does OrthoCareHub have its own hospitals?
- No, OrthoCareHub does not own any hospital. OrthoCareHub works in association with carefully selected doctors who are highly experienced and specialists in the procedures they perform. OrthoCareHub's doctors/ surgeons perform the surgeries leveraging the medical infrastructure of their associated hospitals.
Is robotic knee replacement surgery better than non-robotic knee replacement?
- Yes, robotic knee replacement is far more superior alternative than non-robotic knee replacement. At OrthoCareHub, most surgeons and patients prefer robotic knee replacement because it provides quicker recovery, better knee joint function and longer life of implant.
Who should undergo robotic knee replacement surgery?
- If a patient has indications of a traditional knee replacement, such as severe knee pain, and joint degeneration, then they are a candidate for robotic knee replacement too. Robotic surgery is extremely useful for patients with complex knee joint issues, such as deformities in the femur after an injury, complex knee joint degeneration, knee replacement revision surgery, etc. Due to overwhelming superiority of robotic technique over non-robotic, it has become the preferred choice for both patients and doctors at OrthoCareHub. We perform more than 5000 knee replacements, every year, using MAKO Robot for knee replacement.
How long will the implant last after knee replacement surgery?
- After a successful knee replacement surgery, the knee implant usually lasts for at least 20 to 25 years. The longevity of the knee implant depends on various different factors including the expertise of surgeon, surgical technique used (robotic or non-robotic), the individual’s age and lifestyle, etc. Due to the use of most advanced techniques by highly experienced surgeons at OrthoCareHub, all patients after knee replacement enjoy a health pain-free and long life without any limitations.
Is recovery from robotic knee replacement surgery less painful than non-robotic knee replacement?
- Yes, patients usually have lesser pain after a robotic knee replacement, compared to non-robotic knee replacement, because the incisions from robotic surgery are precise that avoid any damage to the surrounding soft tissues, thereby preventing the exposure of the knee and resulting in a safer surgical process. At the same time, the process to remove damaged knee joint is also precise and more regulated with robotic technique, which decreases damage to healthy skin and muscles. At OrthoCareHub, majority of patients achieve full recovery within 20-25 days of robotic knee replacement.
Can I squat after robotic knee replacement?
- Yes, you can perform half-squats within two weeks of robotic knee replacement. And to perform full squats patients generally need upto 30 days after surgery. The ability to do full squats depend majorly on your won body flexibility and has less to do with limitations of surgery.
How effective is robotic knee replacement surgery?
- Robotic knee replacement surgery is a very successful procedure. In fact, its success rate is even higher than other techniques of minimally invasive knee replacement because the cuts made by a robotic arm are very precise, implant fit is natural and joint alignment is functional. At OrthoCarHub, based upon internal data, the overall success rate for robotic knee replacement is nearly 99.7%.
When can I return to work after the robotic knee replacement?
- Because the doctors of OrthoCareHub use Advanced Robotic techniques for your knee replacement, the recovery is very quick with majority of patients joining offices within 15 days of surgery. In fact, more than 98% patients of OrthoCareHub achieve complete recovery in less than 30 days.
Is physiotherapy required even after robotic knee replacement surgery?
- Yes, even though robotic knee replacement provides more natural knee joint movement and function after the surgery, it can only become successful if the patient follows their physiotherapy requirements and their orthopedist’s instructions during their recovery period. The best part about knee replacement surgeries done under OrthoCareHub's experts is that the rehabilitation process starts from the day of surgery itself. The patient and the accompanying person are diligently taught exercises during their stay in hospital. Hence, when the patient is discharged, they do not need any supervised physio care, rather recover wonderfully with self-guided exercises.
What is the cost of tests for knee replacement surgery?
- Patients undergo several tests before the procedure, such as ECG & 2D echo for heart, urine examination, X-rays, blood tests, and MRI scans. During a physical examination, the surgeon will check the range of motion of the knee joint and the soft tissues and ligaments condition. All these costs will be included in the treatment cost. Individually the costs can be variable and can be stressful for patients. OrthoCareHub has resolved this issue by offering an all-inclusive package for knee replacement surgery which cover the costs for all the regular pre-surgery check-ups.
What is the cost of implants in the Knee Replacement surgery?
- The costs of knee replacement implants depend upon two factors ie the company and the material of implant. At OrthoCareHub we use knee implants from Internationally recognized companies only (like Stryker, Zimmer, Smith & Nephew & DePuy). The cost of implants is between 1500 to 2500 USD.
Is there any alternative to knee replacement surgery?
- You can go for continuous physical therapy, which can help increase muscle strength, support the knee, and reduce the pain. But if your knee joint is damaged more than 50%, or the leg alignment is bent and you feel pain even when you are resting, the knee replacement surgery is the best option to get a pain-free healthy life again. At OrthoCareHub, the use of most advanced techniques has resulted in extremely good quality of life for all the patients who previously have been living a painful and sedentary and incapacitated life due to knee arthritis.
Is there any post-treatment expense after the Knee Replacement procedure?
- The major costs after surgery are physiotherapy and medicines. However, since, OrthoCareHub offers all inclusive packages only, so these costs are also covered and you do not have to worry about any payments after surgeries done under packages from OrthoCareHub.
What is the cost of tests for revision hip replacement surgery?
- Revision hip replacement surgery is recommended when the previous replacement surgery cause issues due to a loose implant or infection. Our specialist doctors at OrthoCareHub will do some tests to evaluate the condition of the hip, such as X-rays, MRI scans, and CT scans. OrthoCareHub's doctors will also do blood tests to determine if you have any infection or have a reaction to the metal component. The best part is, all these costs will be included in the treatment package given to you by OrthoCareHub, so you don't have to worry about unexplained increase in hospital bills at the time of treatment.
Is there any post-treatment expense after the revision hip replacement surgery?
- The major costs after surgery are physiotherapy and medicines. However, since, OrthoCareHub offers all inclusive packages only, so these costs are also covered and you do not have to worry about any payments after surgeries done under packages from OrthoCareHub.
Is there any alternative to revision hip replacement surgery?
- Revision Hip Replacement Surgery has to be done in majorly three cases: one when there is a fracture around hip, two when there is an infection or three when the implant is loosened. A perfectly done hip replacement by surgeons at OrthoCareHub lasts for more than 2 decades, hence our patients rarely require revision hip replacements. However, we do a lot of revision hip replacements, mostly for patients who have got their initial hip replacements done somewhere else. At OrthoCareHub, the success rate for revision hip replacement is more than 98.8%.
What tests are performed before minimally invasive spine surgery, and how much do they cost?
- X-rays, MRI scans, blood tests, 2D echo and ECG for heart are generally done as part of pre-anesthesia check-up. At OrthoCareHub, we always include the costs of the tests are in the treatment package, to save our patients from any last moment financial stress.
Are there cheaper options for minimally invasive spine surgery?
- The traditional open surgical methods are used to treat many spinal problems such as degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, scoliosis, and spinal stenosis. The open spine surgery is always cheaper than advanced minimally invasive spine surgeries like spine endoscopy because it does not require advanced and costlier instruments and technology. However, if the overall cost is compared between open and minimally invasive endoscopic spine surgery, then minimally invasive spine surgery wins due to extremely quick recovery time resulting in early discharge from hospitals and quick return to work and lesser need for physiotherapy and medicines. Expert Spine Endoscopic Surgeons at OrthoCareHub, prefer to treat majority of spine patients with minimally invasive techniques like LASER and ENDOSCOPY. This helps in lower overall expense for the patients and an extremely fast recovery.
How painful is a total knee replacement?
- There is an amount of pain associated with a total knee replacement, but OrthoCareHub's pain specialists use patient-specific pain management protocols including adductor canal blocks and epidural catheter based selective analgesia. This helps patients of OrthoCareHub in avoiding harmful effect of NSAID and Opioid like painkillers and also helps them to regain their mobility quickly, that too without much pain.
What is the best age to have a knee replacement?
- While the average age range of knee replacement surgery is between 50- 70, the best age to have a knee replacement is when the pain does not seem to subside, interfering with daily functioning, and traditional therapy and medications do not bring relief. Knee specialists at OrthoCareHub carefully review each and every case, before deciding upon best treatment plan.
Is ACL surgery the same as knee replacement surgery?
- No, ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) surgery and knee replacement surgery are completely different procedures that address different issues within the knee joint. While ACL surgery is focused on repairing or reconstructing a specific ligament named as Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL), knee replacement surgery involves replacing the entire knee joint. The choice between these surgeries depends on the nature and extent of the knee condition or injury. At OrthoCareHub, all patients undergo careful clinical and imaging work-up done under specialists guidance to find out the root cause of their trouble and then a customized treatment plan is created, which gives the near perfect clinical outcomes.
What is Platelet-Rich Plasma therapy for the knee?
- Platelet-rich plasma therapy, also known as PRP therapy, involves extracting a concentrated form of the patient's own blood, rich in platelets, and injecting it into the tissues around knee joint to promote healing and reduce inflammation. This has proven a highly effective regenerative therapy if done correctly in carefully selected patients. To ensure positive results, the doctors at OrthoCareHub, reserve this treatment for patients who have less than 50% damage to their knee joints or have grade 1 sprain in their ACL Ligament.
How much does knee replacement surgery typically cost?
- The cost of knee replacement surgery can vary widely based on geographic location, the specific hospital or surgical centre, and the technique of knee replacement procedure. For all our patients at OrthoCareHub, we provide a fairly exact estimate of treatment beforehand, so that there is no last minute financial stress.
Are there additional costs beyond the initial estimate for knee replacement surgery?
- The major costs after surgery are physiotherapy and medicines. However, since, OrthoCareHub offers all inclusive packages only, so these costs are also covered and you do not have to worry about any payments after surgeries done under packages from OrthoCareHub.
Are there different costs for partial vs. total knee replacement surgery?
- Yes, the cost of partial knee replacement surgery is different from that of total knee replacement. Partial Knee Replacement is costlier than total knee replacement because the implant for partial knee replacement is costlier.
When can I resume driving after total hip replacement?
- Most patients can resume driving within one month of total hip replacement surgery. However, this varies depending on the individual's progress and the specific guidelines provided by the surgeon. Due to the use of advanced surgical techniques by doctors at OrthoCareHub, the majority of patients resume driving within 30 days.
Can total hip replacement be performed on obese patients?
- Total hip replacement can absolutely be performed on obese patients. Surgeons at OrthoCareHub, routinely perform hip replacements on patients with BMI more than 35. Furthermore, the use of Robotic technique helps our obese patients achieve the same success rate that non-obese patients achieve. Obese patients receive a direct benefit from hip replacement, as their mobility increases after hip replacement and it has been observed that within 6 months of hip replacement are able to achieve a very healthy body weight and well toned body physique.
Can total hip replacement alleviate pain in the groin and lower back?
- Yes, total hip replacement can often cure pain in the groin and lower back caused by hip joint conditions like osteoarthritis. In fact, for all the patients of hip replacement at OrthoCareHub, its a protocol to screen their back and groins to identify the source of pain and the final treatment plan is drafted only after due
Can total hip replacement be performed if there is a history of hip fractures?
- Hip fractures if not treated properly can result in arthritis of hip joint and for hip joints which have more than 50% damage, the only option left is hip replacement. Surgeons at OrthoCareHub routinely perform hip replacement for patients who had hip fracture previously. Due to the use of advanced robotic techniques, the success rate of hip replacement for hip fractures cases at OrthoCareHub is more than 99%.
Can total hip replacement be performed on patients with hip dysplasia?
- Hip dysplasia is congenital condition which results in abnormal shape of hip joint leading to shortened leg, limited hip movements and limp while walking. Patients with hip dysplasia experience significant hip pain, back pain and functional impairments and psychological stress. Surgeons of OrthoCareHub are at forefront of providing highly successful hip replacement surgeries to patients with hip dysplasia by performing over 1000 such surgeries, every year.
Can total hip replacement be performed on patients with hip joint tumours?
- Hip joint tumors, although rare, can cause complete destruction of hip joint leading to poor life quality. Surgeons at OrthoCareHub, in addition to standard hip replacement
- use advanced surgical techniques like Femur Replacement, False Acetabulum and Hemi-pelvis Replacement techniques to precisely remove the tumor and quickly restore hip joint function and quality of life.
Can total hip replacement be performed on patients with a history of metal allergies?
- Patients with a history of metal allergies may be at risk of adverse reactions to certain metal components used in prostheses. OrthoCarehub's doctors take special precautions on all their patients to establish metal allergy and if found we use alternative materials, such as ceramic or highly cross-linked polyethylene, in such cases to avoid metal allergy. OrthoCareHub comes across 5-10 patients of joint replacement every year who have metal allergy issues.
Can Spine Endoscopy help sciatica patients?
- Sciatica is a common condition and simple methods like physiotherapy are enough in nearly 80% of patients. However, in cases of resistant sciatica where patients do not get permanent relief, Spine Endoscopy by OrthoCareHub's highly trained and experienced surgeons help in removing the bulging disc and remove sciatica pain completely.
