Many people associate robots with science fiction films and state-of-the-art factory production lines churning out cars, electronics, and many other items. However, they are increasingly making their presence felt in operation theaters (OTs), alongside the most experienced surgeons and OT technicians. Every top Indian hospital is leveraging robotics across a wide variety of surgical interventions, starting from cardio-thoracic to knee replacements. Are you planning robotic knee replacement in India?
This article discusses some of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India offering advanced robotic-assisted procedures at affordable costs.
What is robotic-assisted surgery?
Robotic-assisted surgery encompasses a wide variety of minimally invasive surgical procedures where surgeons use robotic arms to perform operations. The key benefits of robotic-assisted surgery are higher precision, minimal incision, flexibility, and control over the effects of incision on neighborhood tissues and organs. Robotic surgery involves:
- Small incisions: The surgeon makes tiny (laparoscopic-level) incisions to insert cameras for 3-dimensional imaging of organs, joints, and bones.
- Robotic arms: Specialized surgical instruments are fitted to the robotic arms. A surgeon and OT team control the robotic arms for performing the surgery.
- Surgeon’s console: In robotic surgery, the surgeon performing the procedure sits in the console and controls the robotic arms with precision hand movements using console tools.
- 3 dimensional (3D) Visualization: Unlike conventional laparoscopic surgeries, robotic arm-assisted surgeries use high-definition 3D visuals for viewing the surgical site, performing incisions, and other tasks. Surgeons can also magnify the 3D visual for better accuracy during surgery.
Some of the key benefits of robotic-assisted surgeries are:
- Minimally invasive: It results in minimal pain experience after the surgery, reduced scarring, and faster recovery.
- Enhanced precision: Robotic arms can be controlled up to sub-millimeter level precision. This provides surgeons the capability to remove smaller tissues without damaging tissues in the surrounding sites.
- Improved treatment outcomes: In complex surgical interventions, robotic surgery reduces the chance of post-surgery complications significantly.
Though robotic arm-assisted techniques are being used for various surgical interventions, the common use cases include:
- Oncological surgeries
- Colorectal surgery
- Urology
- Gynecology
- Cardiac procedures
- Knee replacement
- Gallbladder removal
It is important to understand that, in robotic surgery, the actual operation is controlled by human surgeons and their teams. So, specialized training for the OT team is very important.
What are the benefits of robotic knee replacement?
Most of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India offer robotic arm-assisted knee replacement and other joint replacement surgeries. The unique benefits of choosing robotic surgery for knee replacement are:
- Greater precision – Robotic systems offer surgeons and their teams detailed magnified 3D video imaging of the surgical site. This helps surgeons better plan surgery and execute the plan with a high level of precision.
- Better joint movement and stability – Robotic arms allow precise bone cutting and aligning implants with minute control. This improves the fit and function of the artificial knee, which, further, leads to more natural movement and better balance after the knee replacement.
- Improved long-term treatment outcomes – Precision replacement of the knee reduces the chance of regular wear and tear of the implant, giving it a longer lifespan.
- Customization of surgical intervention – Most of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India suggest robotic knee replacement for patients with arthritis and similar conditions and complex knee anatomy. Real-time 3D visualization of the joints and high-precision robotic arms enables easy customization during the operation.
Is robotic knee replacement expensive?
At many of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India the costs of robotic knee replacement surgeries are at par with performing conventional knee replacement procedures under expert surgeons.
- Cost of robotic knee replacement in Western countries – $32,535 and $31,917
- The same procedure in some of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India costs – $ 8,000 to $ 10,000.
Best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India
Many of the top super-specialty and orthopedic specialty hospitals offer robotic surgery infrastructure with trained teams of the best knee replacement surgery doctors in India. We have listed a few of them here.
- Fortis Memorial Research Institute, Gurgaon
- Fortis Flt. Lt. Rajan Dhall Hospital, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi
- Max Super Speciality Hospital, Saket, New Delhi
- Artemis Hospital, Gurgaon
- Nanavati Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai
- Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, New Delhi
- Medanta – The Medicity, Gurgaon
- MIOT International, Chennai
- BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital Delhi
- Fortis Hospital, Noida
Bottomline
Bone joint degeneration is a part of the natural aging process. Advanced procedures like robotic knee replacement have improved the chances of positive treatment outcomes tremendously. Every year, hundreds of international patients opt for knee replacement at some of the best knee replacement surgery hospitals in India for their reputation in patient care, their success rate, and the affordable costs of treatment.