Arthritis is painful, and the medical solutions are beyond the means of the poor.

But few know about a Tamil Nadu government scheme supported by Sri Ramakrishna Hospital in Coimbatore, one of the many hospitals offering free knee replacement for the economically weaker section of the society.

Tamil Nadu Government Chief Minister’s Insurance Scheme funds the surgery along with post-surgical care that is available at at a subsidized rate, thanks to hospitals and service-minded companies that manufacture the implant used in the knee replacement surgery.

Dr R Vijayaraj, consultant orthopaedics surgeon at Sri Ramakrishna Hospital says a traditional knee replacement surgery would cost anywhere around Rs 1 lakh. Under the scheme, the subsidized cost will be just about 75,000 and completely free for the patients.

The hospital also specializes in technologically advanced surgical solutions for arthritis.

Knee replacement surgery is performed in cases of severe arthritis and is necessary to improve the quality of life, says Dr Vijayaraj. “However, recovery after traditional surgery can be lengthy and painful.”

People often postpone knee replacement and exhaust all other options, not wanting to be away from work and every day activity for months. Others are concerned about pain after surgery and long surgical scar, he says.

But the good news, according to Dr Vijayaraj, is the new alternative that has emerged – Minimally Invasive Quadriceps -sparing total knee replacement often referred to as a “mini total knee replacement.”

This new surgical technique utilises shorter incision and avoids damage to the most important muscle around the knee – the quadriceps.

“The recovery time is much quicker, often allowing patients to walk with a support within two days of surgery. Patients undergoing this procedure able to get muscle strength and control back more quickly than patients who have had traditional total knee replacement.”

But no artificial knee is as good as normal knee. So the surgeon warns against overloading that may reduce the life of the implant and accelerate the wear and tear, however superior the implant’s design is or the material it is made from.

The new knee has a comfortable 25-year life span, and we believe it will even cross this period, Dr Vijayaraj said.
The new technique covers partial replacement, which replaces the worn part of the knee joint rather than the entire knee. This operation is only available if only part of the knee is worn.

It also offers high flex knee, a special type of artificial knee that supports maximum bending of the joint, and high performance knee that is manufactured using advanced artificial knee materials like Oxinium femur and cobalt chrome polished tibial trays, which last much longer.

“These high performance joints are suitable for younger patients,” says Dr Vijayaraj.

Normally arthritis occurs in the middle age, but youngsters who suffer repeated injuries of the knee following a fall or sporting activities, can also suffer from it.

High flex knee and high performance knee are the most recommended solutions for them as they can withstand wear and tear and support a larger sphere of activities, says Dr Vijayaraj.

A pair of good knees is a huge health asset, but after an unavoidable surgery to replace them, it’s still possible to feel ‘whole’ again.