Thanks to impeccable technological advancement in the medical field, India is one of the popular countries for medical tourists. Regarding medical tourism, the term can be defined as people travelling across the international border to seek medical treatments. For example, many medical tourists go abroad to obtain orthopaedic surgeries, including hip replacement as one of the popular treatments.
Hip replacement or total hip arthroplasty is typically a treatment involving replacing the damaged bone or cartilage of a hip joint with a prosthetic joint made of hard or ceramic plastic and metal. Treatment for hip replacement in India is categorized as a common orthopaedic procedure preferred by Indian and international patients.
Most renowned Indian hospitals are equipped with technologically advanced equipment and qualified and experienced healthcare professionals, improving any treatment's success rate. For example, hip replacement is a popular medical tourism procedure in India because of the affordable orthopaedic surgeries for medical tourists worldwide.
We've compiled this guide to inform you about the hip replacement procedure in India, its cost, factors affecting the cost, benefits, preparations, aftercare, follow-up, and tips to choose the right clinic.
Hip replacement surgeries are commonly conducted in adults between 60 and 80, and most surviving hip injuries are due to falls or osteoarthritis. Some hip replacement popular medical tourism procedures available in India are:
As a medical tourist, if you are considering obtaining treatment for hip replacement in India, then you should be aware of one major factor, i.e., the cost.
The average hip replacement cost in India is around Rs.2,50,000. Below given table specifies the cost of hip replacement in some major Indian cities:
City Cost (INR)
Note: The listed cost variables are not constant. It can vary depending on the patient's health condition, the type of treatment chosen, and other factors.
According to the statistics, hip replacement cost in India constitutes just a fraction of the cost in other countries, including the U.S., the U.K., Turkey, Vietnam, and others. In addition, medical tourists, on average, spend 50 to 70 percent less amount on hip replacement treatment.
Country Cost (U.S. Dollars)
Several factors affect the cost of hip replacement treatments in India. These are
India offers a myriad of benefits to international patients looking for hip replacement treatment in the country.
India is home to several medical specialists offering the highest quality hip replacement treatments, using their wealth of experience in joint replacement surgeries. The highly-skilled orthopedic surgeons use innovative techniques to achieve finesse at every phase of treatment.
The primary reason medical tourism is flourishing in India is a significant investment in technologically advanced equipment that offers superior safety and precision. In addition, the availability of advanced technology in some top-notch clinics tempts patients to travel to India for hip replacement treatments.
The cost of hip replacement treatment is more than half the cost charged by other countries offering treatment of the same standards. Moreover, not only treatment cost but also travel and accommodation cost is far less in India than in international countries.
India is one of the major tourist hotspots for patients worldwide, with sightseeing destinations and rich history and culture worth exploring. Medical tourism will provide the best of both worlds- effective hip replacement treatment and a splendid vacation.
Although India is one of the leading countries in hip replacement treatment, not all hospitals or clinics can provide the best treatment. Therefore, it's essential to choose the right clinic for hip replacement in India. Considering the following listed points will help you choose the best hip replacement hospital and surgeon:
Now that you have decided to undergo surgery in India, chances are that you are already in contact with a family practitioner. However, it would help if you made sure that the chosen surgeon in India is medically qualified to perform hip replacement surgery. Orthopedic surgeries can only be performed by qualified and experienced orthopedic surgeons, not family doctors.
A renowned hip replacement clinic will always be equipped with world-class facilities and technologically advanced equipment. Ensure the shortlisted clinic maintains hygiene and provides treatment using state-of-the-art medical equipment. Find out if it has advanced imaging technology, like MRI and X-ray machines. Additionally, check if the staff members at the clinic are friendly and helpful.
The best way to evaluate the expertise of orthopedic clinics and surgeons is to look through patient reviews. You can visit their official website and read reviews posted by previous patients. The clinic's success rate and surgeon's expertise are always reflected in their patient's opinions about them.
It is always recommended to ask for hip replacement treatment estimates from at least 4-5 shortlisted clinics. Once you have the cost estimates, compare them and choose the one offering the best treatment at a reasonable price. Moreover, look at the payment options offered by the hip replacement clinic in India.
After selecting the clinic and surgeon for hip replacement surgery in India, you must prepare for the treatment.
- Pre-operative Instructions
- Choosing the Right Time for Procedure
You have tried all conservative treatments, such as physical therapy, pain medications, or exercise, but nothing worked. So, now is the time to opt for hip replacement surgery. Check your schedule and flight schedule, and if your family doctor gives you a thumbs up for traveling, it's the right time to book the flight and undergo hip replacement treatment.
- Arrangements for Accommodation and Transportation
After choosing the right time for the procedure and booking the flight, the next step is to make arrangements for your accommodation and transportation in India. The accommodation and transportation mode you choose should be as comfortable as possible for quick recovery.
Aftercare and Follow-up
Aftercare and regular follow-up are as important as hip replacement surgery.
- Post-operative Instructions
A surgeon can recommend following these instructions post-surgery:
- Importance of Regular Follow-up
Scheduling regular follow-up appointments with your doctor is crucial for a quick recovery. Follow-up visits will enable the doctor to monitor the condition of the new implant. And professionals will use the same X-ray techniques so that new X-rays can be compared with the earlier ones and subtle changes can be identified.
- Options for Aftercare in India and Home Country
There are some exercises that you can try in India and your home country after your hip replacement surgery:
India is a hub of well-trained and experienced orthopaedic surgeons and technologically advanced equipment. Other reasons, such as better treatment facilities, locality, and hip transplant cost, make it the best place for local and international patients to undergo hip replacement treatment. Moreover, the success rate of hip replacement surgery is more than 95%.
However, you can avail of all these benefits only by choosing the right clinic for hip replacement in India. Now that you must travel across the border, focus on preparing for hip replacement in India. You don't want to face any complications during and after the surgery.
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If you want more information about hip replacement treatment in India, drop your queries in the comment section!
Ques 1. Does a hip replacement patient need a walker post-surgery?
Ans 1. The patient's care team consisting of a surgeon, primary care doctor, and therapist, will first evaluate the requirement of any assistive device. If a patient feels unbalanced walking on their own, he might need a walker or cane to reduce falls for the first few days.
Ques 2. How soon can a person start to drive after hip replacement surgery?
Ans 2. Patients look forward to resuming normal activities, including driving, after the hip replacement surgery. To avoid complications and ensure the patient’s safety on the road, doctors recommend waiting 4-8 weeks post-surgery before recommencing driving.
Ques 3. Is hip replacement treatment very costly?
Ans 3. Hip replacement treatment does require some funds and a substantial amount of money that ranges between INR 60,000* and 8,00,000 lakhs* depending on the other factors that can affect the price range. It is not as pricey as other organ transplant surgeries, and there are multiple funding options, including bank loans, government assistance, and crowdfunding.
Ques 4. Can anyone get hip replacement surgery?
Ans 4. Hip replacement treatment is meant for people whose hip joint has worn out or damaged, making walking difficult. The surgery is opted for when hip joints and pain can be treated only through invasive treatment.
Ques 5. How long must one stay in the hospital after hip replacement surgery?
Ans 5. A hip replacement patient needs a minimum of 24 hours of stay in the hospital post-surgery. The length of stay also depends on the patient's medical conditions.
Ques 6. How long does a hip replacement surgery take?
Ans 6. The hip replacement surgery usually takes around 2 hours to complete.
Ques 7. What kind of anaesthesia is used during hip replacement surgery?
Ans 7. Patients undergoing hip replacement surgery can be given two types of anaesthesia- general anaesthesia and local anaesthesia.
