The knee replacement surgery cost is quite low in India compared to other developing countries. The knee replacement surgery cost in India for a single knee is approximately between USD 3000 to USD 5500. In case, you required bilateral knee replacement surgery in a single sitting then it will cost you around between USD 5500 to USD 8500 or USD 7000 to USD 10,000 for the bilateral knee replacement done separately. If you compare this cost of knee replacement with other developed countries then you find India is the most reasonable and affordable country for a knee replacement as the same procedure for single knee replacement will cost you between USD 30,000 to USD 50,000 in the country like USA, UK etc.
What are the factors which affect the cost of knee replacement in India?
The knee replacement in India is depending on various factors such as follows:
a) Doctor’s qualification & education: A doctor charges for his/ her skills. A specialist who is highly experienced and skilled would charge more. So, for the people who cannot afford the costly doctors can find an expert who charges a less fee but delivers the same success rate and you can find these doctors at the hospitals under We Care India, the leading medical tourism company.
b) Hospital: Hospital plays an important role while undergoing for the knee replacement surgery so it’s better to choose the hospital which charges less and deliver high success rates. For the people who are below the poverty line the hospitals under We Care India are the best as they have tie-ups with various large and small-scale hospitals.
c) Type of implants used: You can choose implants of different types which are available in the hospitals. The choice of implants will cause a significant difference in the overall expenditure as the imported implants are costlier than the Indian ones and will affect your total cost of knee transplant in India.
d) Type of Procedure: Type of procedure you choose will also affect the cost of knee replacement. For e.g., if you choose the total Knee Replacement than it would be costlier as compared to partial knee replacement surgery, similarly if you choose bilateral Knee replacement surgery than it would cost you more than Unilateral knee replacement surgery. Bilateral Total Knee Replacement would be the costliest procedure among the knee replacement surgeries in India.
Cost breakdown of Knee Replacement Surgery in India
The cost of the knee replacement surgery in India will be categorized as follows:
a) Pre-operative Costs of Knee replacement surgery in India: A knee replacement surgery in India is a major treatment, and your doctor will take all necessary precautions to ensure to deliver the highest success rates of the knee replacement surgery in India. Pre-operative investigation for knee replacement includes the following:
- Blood test to check the total blood count
- Blood sugar test
- MRI
- X-rays
- Urine Test
- Physical examination
- Test to check blood clots
- Liver Function Test (LFT)
- ECG or EKG to check the rhythm of the heart
- Bone Mineral Density test required in some cases
- Baseline metabolic analysis of kidneys and electrolyte status
There are cases where certain tests may not be mandatory and some patients may be advised for additional investigations which are based on their medical history. The estimated cost for pre-operative tests ranges between USD 150 to USD 300.
Your doctor will also conduct your dental test to treat the infections if any to avoid the post-surgical infections due to due to bacteria which can enter into your bloodstream from teeth and gums. You can avail such treatment from a dental clinic which may cost less than a hospital.
Your doctor will also adjust your prescribed medications before surgery. They may prescribe certain new drugs, such as anticoagulants and antibiotics, to make your surgery smooth.
b) Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery
The cost of knee replacement surgery in India includes the following:
- Fees of Surgeon
- Anaesthesiologist’s fee
- Assistant fees
- OT charges
- Cost of implant
- Medicines for anesthesia
- Surgery consumables charges
- Transfusion of blood if required
c) Post-operative cost of Knee Replacement surgery
After the knee replacement surgery, the cost for 4 to 5 days will be an additional cost which is required for post-operative rehabilitation. This includes guided movement in the presence of a highly trained physiotherapist and pain-relief medications. Costs incurred during a post-operative period are:
- Charges of physiotherapist and other rehabilitation.
- Charges of pain relief medications.
- Cost of consumables and crutches.
- Cost of post-surgery hospitalization for patient and companion, if any.
