Orthopedic &Arthroscopic procedures

India has many super specialty hospitals having well-equipped Orthopedics and Arthroscopic departments. Arthroscopic surgery comprises a check-up of the knee or shoulder joint using an instrument called the arthroscope. It is used to repair shoulder fractures and to repair rotor cuffs. Arthroscopic surgery implies use of a small camera during the surgery so that the doctor gets a better idea of the joint condition. It is helpful in diagnosis of swelling of the joint cartilage, or tendon and muscle wear and tear. Ilizarov technique is used along with arthroscopy for some patients if required. Arthroscopic procedures are usually conducted for patients above 60 years and require a hospital stay of a week. The main advantage of this surgery is that the patient recovers quickly because the Deltoid muscle is not detached from its insertion on the clavicle. The surgery takes about two hours and only one joint is repaired at a time. The prosthesis usually lasts a lifetime and may not need replacement.

Orthopedic departments in India are equipped to perform surgeries like hip replacement, knee replacement, and fusion. They can perform cartilage and bone transplantation using minimally invasive techniques. A knee replacement will cost about 4000 pounds in India and about 10,000 pounds in the UK. Replacing both knees costs $12600 including the cost of the implant and two weeks hospital stay. Hip replacement costs about $5400 with a week’s stay in the hospital. Prices are indicative and vary in different hospitals.

Angiography
This is an x-ray of the blood vessels using a dye . The purpose is to find out blockages in the arteries of the heart, detect atherosclerosis and to map the heart before surgery. Usually the femoral artery in the leg is punctured and the cardiologist inserts a catheter through this to the heart. It is a simple procedure done under local anesthesia. This costs about $570.

Angioplasty
In case the angiography reveals atherosclerosis, angioplasty is used to insert a balloon in the artery to remove the blockage. The balloon is mounted at the tip of a catheter inserted in to a blood vessel at the elbow or the groin.On reaching the blocked artery the surgeon inflates the balloon removes the deposits and then withdraws the catheter and the balloon. This costs about $4200 with three days of hospitla stay. Angioplasty with a regular stent costs $6300 and about $8000 with a medicated stent.

Bypass
Coronary bypass improves blood flow to the heart through the coronary arteries. It costs about $8000 including hospital stay. It is done through a vein in the leg or from the internal mammary artery, or from an artery in the wrist. This creates an alternate path to carry blood to the heart by bypassing the blocked artery. This costs about $7000 including hospital stay of 8 days.

Open-heart surgery
The surgeon opens the patient’s chest and works on the heart or clears the blocked arteries. Here a heart-lung machine supports the patient while surgeons work on his heart. The operation takes about 5 hours and a hospital stay of a week. The patient is observed first in the ICU and then in the general ward. The incisions disappear after some time. But you must give up smoking and observe a healthy lifestyle to avoid recurrent blockages in your arteries.

Inserting a pacemaker costs about $5400 upwards and valve replacement costs upwards of $9500. Implanting cardiac defibrillator costs upwards of $16000.