The Ultimate Guide to Joint Replacement Surgery: What to Expect and How Dr. Keshav Digga Restores Your Mobility

Chronic joint pain, whether in the knee, hip, or shoulder, can rob you of your independence. Simple daily activities, from climbing the stairs to enjoying a stroll in the park, can become sources of constant agony. When non-surgical treatments like physiotherapy, medication, and injections no longer provide relief, the thought of joint replacement surgery often arises.

This is a major life decision, and choosing the right expert is important. Dr. Keshav Digga, a distinguished orthopedic surgeon in Kolkata, offers world-class expertise right here in the city. With advanced international fellowship training in joint replacement and arthroscopy, Dr. Digga is a highly expert joint replacement surgeon in Kolkata. He combines this global experience with a patient-centric philosophy: clear diagnosis, a commitment to conservative care first, and the highest standards of surgical precision when required.

This detailed guide walks you through every step of the joint replacement journey, helping you understand the process, manage your expectations, and achieve the best orthopedic care outcomes.

Understanding Joint Damage: When is Replacement Necessary?

Joint replacement, or arthroplasty, is a procedure where damaged or diseased parts of a joint are removed and replaced with artificial components, called prostheses or implants. The goal is simple: eliminate pain, restore movement, and significantly improve your quality of life.

Primary Conditions Leading to Joint Replacement:

1. Osteoarthritis (Degenerative Arthritis): The most common reason. This "wear and tear" condition leads to the breakdown of cartilage, causing painful bone-on-bone friction, severe pain, and stiffness. It is the primary indicator for seeking a joint replacement surgeon in Kolkata.

2. Rheumatoid Arthritis: An autoimmune disease that causes chronic inflammation, which can severely damage and deform the joints, requiring a specialist's intervention.

3. Post-Traumatic Arthritis: Arthritis resulting from a severe joint injury, such as an old fracture or ligament tear, that accelerates joint degeneration.

4. Avascular Necrosis (AVN): Death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply, frequently affecting the hip joint and necessitating timely replacement.

If you are experiencing severe, persistent pain that limits your daily life, and conservative treatments have failed, it is time to consult an experienced orthopedic specialist like Dr. Digga.

Your Joint Replacement Journey with Dr. Keshav Digga

The process is structured and collaborative, ensuring you are prepared, informed, and confident every step of the way.

Step 1: The Initial Consultation and Clear Diagnosis

The journey begins with a thorough evaluation at the clinic. Dr. Digga’s aim is to establish a clear, documented, and transparent diagnosis.

• Detailed History: Dr. Digga will meticulously review your medical history, current symptoms, and the precise impact of the pain on your daily routines, such as walking, sitting, and sleeping.

• Physical Examination: A careful assessment of your joint’s range of motion, stability, and tenderness. This includes specific tests to pinpoint the source of pain, critical for complex hip care.

• Advanced Imaging: X-rays are typically used to assess the severity of the damage, especially the loss of joint space and bone spurs (osteophytes). In some cases, an MRI or CT scan may be utilized for pre-operative templating and planning the exact size and placement of the implant.

• Decision Point: Dr. Digga firmly adheres to his conservative first philosophy. Surgery is only recommended when X-rays clearly show advanced, irreversible joint damage and the patient has failed non-surgical management. The decision is always made jointly, ensuring you fully understand the procedure and expected outcomes.

Step 2: Pre-Operative Planning and Optimization (Prehabilitation)

Once surgery is agreed upon, meticulous preparation is key to a smooth and rapid recovery.

• Medical Clearance and Optimization: You will undergo tests, including blood work, ECG, and a physical exam, to ensure you are medically fit. Managing chronic conditions like diabetes or hypertension before surgery is crucial for reducing risks, especially infection.

• The Implant Choice: Dr. Digga will discuss the type of implant best suited for your age, activity level, and bone quality. Modern implants are made of durable materials, including titanium and cobalt-chrome alloys, ceramics, and highly specialized polyethylene (plastic liners), all designed for long life.

• Prehabilitation (Prehab): This is a key phase involving exercises and guidance before surgery to strengthen the muscles around the joint. Patients who start surgery stronger often recover faster, highlighting the personalized orthopedic care approach at Digga Healthcare.

Step 3: The Surgical Procedure and Advanced Techniques

Dr. Digga is an internationally trained joint replacement surgeon in Kolkata specializing in modern, minimally invasive techniques.

• The Procedure: Total Joint Replacement involves removing the damaged bone ends and cartilage and precisely resurfacing the joint with the artificial components.

  • Total Hip Replacement (THR): The damaged femoral head (ball) is replaced with a metal or ceramic ball attached to a stem inserted into the femur. The hip socket (acetabulum) is prepared and lined with a metal shell and a durable plastic liner.

  • Total Knee Replacement (TKR): The ends of the femur and tibia, and often the kneecap (patella), are resurfaced with metal components, and a smooth plastic spacer is inserted between them.

    

• Precision and Alignment: Dr. Digga’s use of high-precision instrumentation, sometimes including computer-assisted techniques, allows for the optimal alignment and placement of the implant components. Precise placement is the single most important technical factor for minimizing wear, preventing loosening, and maximizing the longevity of the new joint.

• Pain Management: Modern, multimodal pain control protocols are used during and after surgery, including regional nerve blocks and targeted medication, to ensure minimal discomfort and facilitate early movement.

Step 4: Hospital Stay and Immediate Recovery

The focus has shifted from prolonged rest to rapid recovery and safe, early mobilization.

• Early Mobilization: Within hours of the surgery, a physiotherapist will guide you to sit up, stand, and take your first steps, often with the aid of a walker or crutches. Early movement is scientifically proven to be critical for stimulating bone healing, reducing the risk of blood clots, and jump-starting the rehabilitation process.

• Hospital Stay: The typical stay is usually brief, often between 2 to 4 days, depending on your health and progress. Dr. Digga’s team ensures you are stable, comfortable, and educated on your home care plan before discharge.

• Discharge Criteria: Before returning to your home, you must demonstrate that you can:

  • Safely transfer in and out of bed and a chair.

  • Walk independently with an assistive device (like a walker or crutches).

  • Manage your pain effectively with oral medication.

  • Perform your basic home exercise program and understand all safety precautions.

Step 5: Rehabilitation and Achieving a Normal Life

Rehabilitation is the most vital phase, transforming a technically successful surgery into a functional, pain-free outcome. Your commitment here determines the quality of your recovery.

• Intense Physiotherapy: Therapy is customized based on the replaced joint. For knee patients, the immediate focus is on regaining full straightening (extension) and bending (flexion). For hip patients, the focus is on strengthening the core muscles while strictly adhering to dislocation precautions.

• The Dislocation Risk (Hip): After a Total Hip Replacement, certain extreme movements, such as crossing your legs or bending the hip past 90 degrees, can increase the risk of dislocation, especially in the first few weeks. Dr. Digga's team provides clear, strict instructions and adaptive tools to prevent this. While rare with modern techniques, adhering to these precautions is critical.

• Long-Term Milestone Timeline:

  • Weeks 1-4: Focus on wound care, pain control, and supervised walking.

  • Weeks 4-8: Increasing endurance, transitioning off assistive devices (cane only), and regaining independence in most daily tasks.

  • Months 3-6: Significant return to light leisure activities, driving (after surgeon clearance), and returning to most work environments.

  • Full Recovery: Full strength and endurance may take 6 to 12 months. Dr. Digga provides comprehensive, long-term follow-up care to monitor your progress and the health of the implant.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: What factors affect the cost of knee replacement surgery in Kolkata?

A: The cost of knee replacement surgery in Kolkata is highly variable and depends on several key factors. These include: the type and brand of the implant used (e.g., imported, high-flexion, or specialized trauma-specific implants); the hospital facility chosen (costs differ significantly between general, specialized, and multi-specialty hospitals like those in Kolkata; the type of replacement (Total, Partial, or Revision); the patient's overall health and any existing conditions that require specialized monitoring; and the comprehensive package covering the surgeon’s fees and post-operative physiotherapy.

Q2: Is joint replacement high risk surgery?

A: Joint replacement surgery is widely regarded as one of modern medicine's most successful and safest elective procedures, providing a high success rate (often 90-95% survivorship over 10-15 years). However, it is a major operation and carries inherent, though rare, risks.

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The main risks include infection (which Dr. Digga minimizes with strict sterile protocols), blood clots (prevented with medication and early walking), and potential implant loosening or dislocation over time. These risks are significantly lower when performed by an experienced orthopedic surgeon who employs modern techniques and meticulous pre-operative planning.

Q3: Can I live a normal life after joint replacement?

A: Yes, the fundamental goal of joint replacement surgery is not merely to fix a joint, but to enable you to live a normal, active life that was previously restricted by pain. Successful surgery, combined with dedicated rehabilitation under Dr. Keshav Digga’s guidance, typically allows patients to resume nearly all normal activities, including pain-free walking, swimming, light hiking, gardening, and even low-impact sports. The new joint is designed for durability and function, enabling you to enjoy life in Kolkata to the fullest.

Q4: How long will it take to walk after a joint replacement?

A: Thanks to advancements in surgical techniques and pain management, mobilization is very quick. Most patients begin walking with assistance (a walker or crutches) within 24 hours of the procedure. For many hip replacement patients, walking without an aid is often achieved by 4 to 6 weeks, and for knee replacement, typically by 6 to 8 weeks. However, full, unrestricted walking and endurance may take up to 3 months, making your consistency with the personalized rehabilitation plan essential.

Q5: What is the main difference between Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Partial Knee Replacement (PKR)?

A: Total Knee Replacement (TKR) is performed when multiple compartments of the knee joint are severely affected by arthritis. It involves resurfacing the entire joint: the end of the femur, the top of the tibia, and often the back of the patella. Partial Knee Replacement (PKR), which Dr. Keshav Digga performs when appropriate, is a smaller, more bone-preserving surgery done only when the arthritis is confined to a single compartment of the knee. PKR typically results in a smaller incision and a quicker recovery, showcasing a truly conservative approach by the orthopedic specialist.

Q6: Why should I trust Dr. Keshav Digga with my joint replacement in Kolkata?

A: Choosing Dr. Digga means selecting a joint replacement surgeon in Kolkata who offers a rare blend of over 10 years of focused experience and advanced international fellowship training. His patient care philosophy, emphasizing clear diagnosis, prioritizing non-surgical orthopedic care first, and utilizing precise, often minimally invasive, surgical techniques when absolutely necessary, ensures the best possible long-term outcome for your knee, hip, and spine care.

Call at +918100401882  to book an appointment with Dr. Keshav Digga for best orthopedic care in Kolkata!