🦴 Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement

The honest answer is that a replacement is indicated when the pain and loss of function have become unacceptable to you and non-surgical treatment has stopped helping — not at a particular point on an X-ray. Surgeons differ on where that line sits, which is why a second opinion sometimes returns “not yet.” What we look for in your records: standing X-rays showing the degree of joint space narrowing, how long you have had symptoms, how far you can walk, whether your sleep is disturbed, and what you have already tried — physiotherapy, injections, weight loss. If you can still manage, a good surgeon will usually tell you to wait, and we would rather relay that than sell you an operation.

Yes, and it is the single largest variable in your bill. Implants range from domestic prostheses to premium imported ones, and the difference between the cheapest and most expensive option can be several thousand dollars on the same operation. Long-term survival data for modern implants is broadly good across the major brands, so for most patients the surgeon's familiarity with a given system matters more than the logo. What we will not do is let a quote say only “knee replacement” without naming the prosthesis. Ask us and we will get the specific brand and model in writing before you commit.

Later than most patients expect, and it is the treating team that decides, not us and not the airline. The concern after major joint surgery is venous thromboembolism — clots — and long-haul flights in the first weeks meaningfully raise that risk. The usual advice is to wait until you are mobilising with support and the wound has been reviewed, which in practice means around two to three weeks, sometimes longer. We plan your return flight around the clearance date rather than booking it in advance. Compression stockings, aisle seating and walking during the flight all help, and the hospital will tell you whether you need anticoagulants for the journey.