Why International Patients Fly to India for Arthritis Surgery & Treatment

Arthritis surgery in India

Arthritis surgery is typically thought of when joint pain and stiffness are severe, the conservative treatment (such as medications, physical therapy, and lifestyle changes) is no longer beneficial, and the daily activities are greatly impaired. This surgery will vary based on how severe the arthritis is, the joint affected and the general health of the patient.

Types of Arthritis Surgery:

Arthroscopy (Minimum Invasive Surgery)

• A camera and other instruments are used to cut small holes to clear away scarred tissue, bone spurs, or cartilage.
• Common in the early stages of arthritis of the knees, shoulders, and hips.
• Less time taken to recover, but possibly ineffective in severe arthritis.

Joint Fusion (Arthrodesis)

• Fusion of bones occurs to remove the joint so that pain is relieved.
• Applied to smaller joints (ankles, wrists, fingers, spine).
• Painkiller but decreases flexibility.

Osteotomy

• Bone is cut and repositioned to redistribute the weight off of the damaged portion of the joint.
• It is commonly used to treat knee or hip arthritis in younger patients.
• Is able to postpone the necessity of joint replacement.

Synovectomy

• Destruction of inflamed lining of the joints (synovium).
• Thought to help in rheumatoid arthritis when drugs are not working.
• Normally performed arthroscopically.

Arthroplasty (Insertion of a Prosthesis)

• Missing joint is substituted with an artificial implant (metal, ceramic or plastic).
• Most prevalent in knee, hip and shoulder arthritis.

Types:

• Total Joint Replacement (TJR) -whole joint replaced.
• Partial Joint Replacement- only the damaged portion is replaced.
• There is high success rate with great relief of pain and regained mobility.

Best arthritis surgeons in India

• Dr. IPS Oberoi
• Dr. Ramkinkar Jha
• Dr. Ashok Rajgopal
• Dr. Subhash Jangid
• Dr. Jayant Arora
• Dr. SKS Marya
• Dr. Vikas Gupta

Factors Affecting Arthritis knee surgery cost in India

The following are the key variables that can influence the price of knee surgery (particularly knee replacement) in India:

Complexity of Surgery/Procedure Type

• The reason behind Total Knee Replacement (TKR) being more expensive than Partial Knee Replacement (PKR) is that there are more parts involved, surgery is more time-consuming, etc. 
• The cost of a revision surgery (redoing a knee replacement) is much higher (special implants, required and more complicated operation) 
• Cost is augmented with the use of novelized methods (robotic-assisted, navigation, minimally invasive, etc.). 

Facility Level/Type of Hospital

• Multispecialty/ private hospitals with the state of the art infrastructure are more expensive. 
• Room type: shared ward or semi-private room or private or suite. Higher comfort → higher cost. 

Location (City / Region)

• The charges are higher in big metro cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, etc.) than in the small cities or towns. This difference is fueled by overheads, cost of living, staff salaries etc. 
• There is also a relationship between higher costs and reputation of a hospital. Well known hospitals might be priced higher on brand, perceived quality, outcomes. 

Implant / Prosthesis Type

• The local or the imported status of the implant. The imported implants are much costlier. 
• Technology/material: ordinary metal-polyethylene vs high-flex / ceramic / custom implants. There are more expensive higher quality or custom implants. 

Surgeon’s Expertise & Fees

• Experience, specialization and track record of surgeon, seniority, etc. implies increased consultation and surgery cost. 
• Cost increase will occur in case there is a super specialist or a demanded surgeon. 

Pre-operative and Diagnostic Tests

• Imaging (X-rays, MRIs, CT scans), lab tests, pre-anaesthesia check-ups are cost adding factors. It can be very different depending on the number of tests required. 

Length of stay and room charges

• Addition of longer stays (room fees, nursing charges, food, etc.). In case of complications, or slower recovery, stay goes up. 
• Cost is also heavily influenced by the kind of room (private, shared, suite). 

Rehabilitation / Post-operative Care

• Physiotherapy (in-hospital and post discharge) is cumulative. Several sessions throughout weeks/ months. 
• Post-surgical physician visits and radiography, post-surgery medications. 
• Expense of accessories: walkers/crutches, braces, etc. 

Patient’s Health & Age

• In case the patient has co-morbidities (diabetes, heart disease, obesity, etc.), additional care, monitoring, or treatment is necessary → increased cost. 
• Age can affect the time of recovery, special implants required, etc. 

Hidden / Miscellaneous Costs

• Transportation, accommodation (in case of coming to another city), cost of the attendant. 
• Other unexpected expenses: complications/infections, additional medicine, additional diagnostics.

Top hospitals for arthritis surgery in India

• Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
• Medanta-The Medicity, Gurgaon
• Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
• Max Hospital, Saket

Factors Affecting Affordable arthritis treatment in India

The following are the key determinants of the affordability of arthritis treatment in India:

Use of Generics & Biosimilars

• Drugs that are generic are far less expensive. India also has such programs as Jan Aushadhi where generic drugs are affordable. 
• Biologic biosimilars have the potential to save much money.

Intervention and Early Diagnosis

• Historical therapy has the capacity to inhibit the disease progression such that costly therapy becomes less evident in the future.

Normal Treatment Regimens / Reasonable Drug use

• In accordance with the recommendations, it is advisable not to use modalities that are costly unless necessary.
• With economical combinations, minimum effective doses.

Reducing Indirect Costs

• Selecting treatment as near to home as possible to not have to travel and stay.
• Community level rehabilitation and support to decrease hospital visits.

Lifestyle & Self-management of Patients

• Weight, diet, exercises, home physiotherapy, avoiding injuries, and so on, decreases the severity/frequency of the episodes.
• Treatment compliance to prevent complications.

Buying in bulk / collective procurement

• Costs may be reduced by the hospitals that purchase in bulk implants, drugs.

Awareness & Health Literacy

• Those patients who are aware of the disease at an early age know when to consult doctors. Misunderstandings / time wastage enhance seriousness and expenses.

Arthritis surgery in India with GetWellGo

GetWellGo is regarded as a leading supplier of healthcare services. We help our foreign clients choose the best treatment locations that suit their needs both financially and medically.

We offer:

• Complete transparency
• Fair costs.
• 24 hour availability.
• Medical E-visas
• Online consultation from recognized Indian experts.
• Assistance in selecting India's top hospitals for Arthritis Surgery.
• Expert orthopaedic surgeons with a strong track record of success
• Assistance during and after the course of treatment.
• Language Support
• Travel and Accommodation Services
• Case manager assigned to every patient to provide seamless support in and out of the hospital like appointment booking
• Local SIM Cards
• Currency Exchange
• Arranging Patient’s local food