Best Doctors in India for Elbow Replacement

Profile Highlights:

  1. Dr. A Navaladi Shankar is a well-known spine surgeon and orthopedist in Chennai with 21+ years of experience.
  2. He completed an MBBS from Al-Ameen Medical College, MNAMS from the National Board of Education, and a Diploma from Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute.
  3. Dr. Shankar holds expertise in Laminectomy, Lower Back Pain and Neck Pain Treatment, Arthritis Management, and Trauma Surgery.

Profile Highlights:

  • Dr. Kornad P Kosygan is one of the few Orthopedic surgeons in India with a double FRCS degree.
  • He has been successful in the diagnosis and treatment of severe Orthopedic problems throughout his career.
  • Dr. Kornad is invited as an exclusive Orthopedics Specialist from over six countries in the Asian and European subcontinent.
  • Dr. Kosygan has sought extensive training and exposure in the department of Orthopaedics.

Profile Highlights:

  • As one of the most experienced orthopedic surgeons in Delhi, Dr. Chander Shekhar has been practicing for 42 years. He is associated with Indraprastha Apollo Hospital as a consultant.
  • Dr. Chander Shekhar is interested in Knee and Hip joint replacement and revision.
  • He honed his expertise by completing a fellowship in shoulder and knee arthroscopy in the United States. Besides replacement & revision surgery, he has expertise in Birmingham Hip Resurfacing, BHR with stem, and Minimally Invasive Surgery.

Profile Highlights:

  • Dr. Amit Kumar Agarwal is a Delhi-based orthopedic, joint replacement, and spine surgeon consultant who has been assuring joint and spine health for about 18 years.
  • Dr. Agarwal has garnered numerous accolades for his work in treating Joints and Musculoskeletal Disorders, pain management, sports injury, and articular degeneration during his career.

Profile Highlights:

  • Dr. Vibhu Bahl is one of the finest Orthopedist and Joint Replacement Surgeon in India. He has experience of over 22 years in this field.
  • Dr. Bahl has successfully performed multiple complex and primary total knee and hip replacements over his career. Besides these, he specializes in computer-assisted total knee replacements. Patients seeking Arthroscopy for shoulder dislocation, degeneration, and repair must consult him.
  • Dr. Bahl participated as a Faculty in many Arthroscopy conferences.
  • He is passionate about research and has a long list of publications in prestigious national and international journals.

Profile Highlights:

  • Dr. Havind Tandon is one of the best Orthopedists in Delhi, having nearly two decades of experience. He practices as a senior consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital.
  • Many patients who need a knee replacement, repair, or osteotomy have benefitted from his enthusiasm and skill in the field.
  • Dr. Havind Tandon worked with Jhonson & Jhonson as a Facilitator for the National Joint Replacement Program.
  • Pain management counseling, Joint Replacement Surgery, Spinal Therapy, reverse shoulder replacement, neuropathy assessment, foot drop, treatment of complex fractures, and Adult Joint Reconstruction are just a few of the vital services provided by Dr. Havind Tandon.
  • Dr. Tandon was also recognized for his work in the field of research.

Profile Highlights:

  • With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma can be generally considered a boon for people suffering from complex, bone, joint, or spine disorders.
  • Currently known as one of India’s leading spine experts in India, Dr. Rajesh Kumar Verma performs as many as 50 surgeries in a month. The types of surgeries he performs include all types of spine surgeries, joint replacements, as well as complex trauma surgeries.

Best Hospitals in India for Elbow Replacement

Fortis Hospital, Shalimar Bagh

Hospital Highlights:

  • Fortis Hospital in Shalimar Bagh is a multi-super specialty hospital that strives to provide world-class patient care by leaving no stone unturned.
  • Fortis, Shalimar Bagh, with 262 beds and a 7.34-acre footprint, provides the best level of medical care through its team of doctors, nurses, technicians, and management professionals.

Reliance Hospital, Mumbai

Hospital Highlights:

  • Reliance Hospital is one of the best super-specialty care hospitals in Navi Mumbai.
  • The main purpose of this hospital is to become a trustworthy place for the best health and hope for society. The hospital is well connected to the suburbs of Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
  • The hospital has various specialty departments, viz., Accident & Emergency, Anesthesiology, Dental Services, Dermatology, Diabetology, Dietetics Nutrition, Endocrinology, ENT, Gastroenterology, General Surgery, Gynaecology And Obstetrics, Hepato Pancreato Biliary Surgery, Infectious Disease, Internal Medicine, Interventional Radiology, Laboratory Medicine, Minimal Access Laparoscopic Surgery, Nephrology, Neurosciences, Opthalmology, Orthopaedics, Paediatrics, Pain Management Palliative Care, Physical Medicine Rehabilitation, Plastic And Reconstructive Surgery, Psychiatry, Pulmonary Medicine, Radiology, Rheumatology, Transplant, Urology Andrology, Vascular Surgery

Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre, Mumbai

Hospital Highlights:

  • Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre is India’s premier multi-speciality tertiary care hospital and has been recognised as a global medical excellence centre.
  • Lilavati Hospital & Research Centre has built an unrivalled level of trust with its patients over the years, thanks to a solid foundation that comprises cutting-edge facilities, the best medical competence, research, education, and charity endeavours.
  • The hospital is quite proud of the fact that it now serves patients from all kinds of backgrounds, not just from the United States but from all around the world.
  • The hospital has a total of 323 beds, one of the largest Intensive Care Units (ICUs), 12 Operation Theatres with modern amenities, over 300 consultants, and almost 1,800 personnel.

Venkateshwar Hospital, Dwarka, New Delhi

Hospital Highlights:

  • State-of-the-art technology and devoted healthcare professionals have been brought together under one roof at Venkateshwar Hospital to provide genuine medical care. The hospital’s professionals work together as a team to deliver the best possible treatment to their patients, using the most sophisticated equipment and information technology.
  • Venkateshwar Hospital’s mission is to attain global excellence in healthcare by employing evidence-based, ethical clinical practices and cutting-edge technology by a team of highly skilled experts.

Elbow Replacement

Elbow Replacement is a surgical procedure where the damaged bone area or cartilage in the elbow region is replaced with an artificial joint or prosthetic, as it’s commonly called, to reduce pain and stiffness caused by the damaged elbow. The elbow contains multiple moving joints which makes this a complex procedure only to be opted for if the doctor recommends it.

The elbow joint connects three major bones, namely, the humerus in the upper arm and the radius and ulna bone in the lower arm. When the artificial joint is put in, the 2-3 quality grade prosthetic or metal stems work together to create flexibility and easy movability of the elbow joint.

When is Elbow Replacement recommended?

Initially, the elbow replacement was a common treatment method for patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis (RA), but with passing years, new treatment methods involving medicine and physical therapy has been introduced to treat RA. However, certain serious RA conditions are still treated by elbow replacement. Other common causes of damaged elbow joint can be due to:

  • Osteoarthritis
  • Torn or damaged elbow tissue
  • Broken or fractured elbow joint
  • Tumour in elbow
  • Stiffness in elbow
  • Unsuccessful elbow replacement surgery in the past

 

Based on the symptoms you show and the intensity of the condition, your medical team will decide whether your condition requires an elbow replacement or not.

Diagnostic Tests needed

Based on the symptoms which can range from excessive pain and difficulty in movement to stiffness or visible physical growth in the elbow joint, the doctors may undergo some diagnostic tests such as a physical exam or X-Rays. The medical team may prescribe some additional tests to accurately determine the underlying condition, but generally, an X-Ray of the elbow area is enough to make the decision.

Elbow Replacement Procedure

Preparation

While preparing for elbow replacement surgery, patients are requested to share the full details of their medical history with the concerned medical team. This includes ongoing or past treatment and medications including herbal supplements, vitamins etc. This is the general preparation method for this surgery.

Two weeks before the day of the surgery, patients are requested to stop alcohol or tobacco consumption along with medicines that are blood-thinners in nature. Patients suffering from heart conditions or diabetes should get themselves checked for any complications. Patients are also requested to contact the medical team regarding any special dietary regulations before the surgery.

Replacement Procedure

The elbow replacement surgery is conducted under regional or general anaesthesia so the patient will feel no pain or discomfort during the procedure.

  • An incision or cut is made the elbow to reveal the elbow joint
  • The doctor then removes the damaged tissue, cartilage or elbow part.
  • Following this, two holes are drilled in the centre of the arm bones to be connected
  • The artificial joints are inserted and cemented in place. Based on the type of prosthetic used, the artificial stems cane be hinged together.
  • The tissues around the new joint is restored and the incision is sewed shut.

 

 The elbow replacement procedure can be performed using two different prosthetic types. If only a portion of the joint is damaged or broken, the surgical method can replace only that particular portion with an artificial joint. On the other hand, if the entire joint needs a replacement, both the bone ends in the elbow joint is replaced with slender artificial joints.

Bones are usually hard on the outside with a soft centre in the middle. The prosthetics are inserted in the soft centre of the bone.

The two prosthetic types used in this procedure are-

  1. Linked Implant &
  2. Un-linked Implant

Linked Implant:

Pros of Linked Implant

This type of prosthetics usually have good joint stability

Cons of Linked Implant

Movement stress sometimes can result in the implants loosening.

Un-linked Implant:

Pros of Unlinked Implant

With proper physical therapy, the ligaments and the muscles can strengthen and create joint stability

Cons of Unlinked Implant

Without the tissues and ligaments working together, this implant can be prone to dislocation

Risk Factors of Elbow Replacement

Certain anaesthesia complication during this routine may lead to shortness of breath, blood clot, medication reactions, or infection at the worst.

Apart from that, usual complications of this medical procedure maybe:

  • Damage to blood vessels or nerves during the surgical procedure
  • Loosening of the artificial joint
  • Anti-bodies in the patient’s body reacting to the foreign implants
  • Dislocation of the artificial joint
  • Infection of the wound site
  • Bone break during the surgery

Elbow Replacement Post-Surgery Care

For the initial days of the surgery, your doctor might add a splint to your elbow to keep the joints from moving. Doctors may also recommend hospital stay based on your condition to monitor the progress or success of the treatment. Certain medications will be prescribed to deal with any sort of post-operation pain or discomfort.

Home Care & Precaution

The real care and precaution start once the patient leaves the hospital. Based on your recovery, a soft or hard splint might be introduced to your arm. The usual recovery rate varies from person to person but ideally, patients can start using their arms within 12 weeks of the surgery. However, for the initial days, they might need constant round-the-clock help for their general day-to-day activities such as showering, eating etc. As for the wound or stitches, the dressing needs to be changed every day to keep the wound clean and dry, but do not put water on the wound without the doctor’s approval.

FAQs

How long is the hospital stay for elbow replacement surgery?

3-5 days hospital stay.

How long will the recovery process take?

The elbow replacement procedure takes about 2-3 hours. Recovery process is mapped after the surgery is completed and might range from 6-12 weeks. From 12 weeks patients can start using the elbow joint but full recovery may take up to 1 year.

Why do I feel pain even after my elbow surgery?

Pain is normal for patients undergoing elbow surgery and it should get better over time. Pain medications can be prescribed by doctors based on the intensity of the pain.

Can I resume normal movement of my elbow?

For the first one or two weeks of the surgery, doctors recommended no or minimal usage of the hand. Within 6 weeks, physical therapy or routine chores can be started slowly and steadily, but this should be done only after doctor approval. Within 12 weeks of the surgery patients can start lifting small weights but excessive physical weight should be avoided at all costs.

My elbow is sore after physical therapy. What should I do?

This can be normal for patients trying physical therapy for the first couple of times. Usually, doctors recommend ice application to the joint for some time to reduce soreness.

How long will my elbow replacement last?

Usually, elbow replacement varies from patient to patient based on the physical activities they undertake. However, general elbow surgery can easily last you for approx. 10 years.

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