Orthopaedics and Joint Replacement

The Orthopaedic and Joint Replacement department specialises in arthroscopy, that deals with trauma recovery, spinal injuries and complicated joint replacement, which are done to ensure that you derive maximum bone and joint health under our care. With an efficient line-up of leading orthopaedic doctors from around the country, we offer dedicated treatments for all minor and major osteoarthritic issues. One of our leading treatment modules includes the platelet-rich plasma transfusion for patients with osteoarthritis. Our treatments involve the minimally invasive surgeries for trauma recovery as well as the bone restructuring. Our team of rheumatologists, anaesthesiologists and rehabilitation experts are here to give you smooth and rapid recovery.

ACL reconstruction

ACL reconstruction is surgery to replace the anterior cruciate (KROO-she-ate) ligament (ACL) that are one of the major ligaments in your knee. Most commonly, the ACL injuries occur during sports such as the sudden stops and changes in direction, such as soccer, basketball, volleyball and football.

A torn ACL can’t be successfully sewn back together, therefore the ligament will be replaced with a piece of tendon from another part of your leg or from a deceased donor. Usually, this surgery is performed through small incisions around your knee joint. A narrow, fiber-optic viewing scope is used to guide the placement of the ACL graft.

Ankle-brachial index

The ankle-brachial index test is a quick, noninvasive way to check the risk of peripheral artery disease (PAD). PAD is a condition in which the arteries in your legs or arms are narrowed or blocked. People with peripheral artery disease are at a higher risk of stroke, heart attack, leg pain and poor circulation.

The ankle-brachial index test will compare your blood pressure as measured at your ankle with your blood pressure measured in your arm. A low ankle-brachial index number will indicate the narrowing or blockage of the arteries in your legs, which leads to circulatory problems, heart disease or stroke. The ankle-brachial index test is sometimes recommended as part of a series of three tests, including the carotid ultrasound and abdominal ultrasound, for checking the blockages or narrowed arteries.

Arthroscopy

Arthroscopy (ahr-THROS-skuh-pee) is a procedure to diagnose and treat the joint problems. During arthroscopy, a surgeon will insert a narrow tube containing a fiber-optic video camera through a small incision which is about the size of a buttonhole. The view inside your joint is transmitted to a video monitor.

Arthroscopy will allow the surgeon to see inside your joint without having to make a large incision. Even the surgeons can repair some types of joint damage during arthroscopy, by inserting the pencil-thin surgical instruments through additional small incisions.

Bone density test

A bone density test will determine if you have osteoporosis, a disease causing the bones to become more fragile and more likely to break.

In the past, osteoporosis could be detected only after you broke a bone. By that time, however, your bones could be quite weak. A bone density test will enhance the accuracy by calculating your risk of breaking bones.

A bone density test uses X-rays for measuring how many grams of calcium and other bone minerals are packed into a segment of bone. The bones that are most commonly tested are in the hip, spine and forearm.

Bone scan

A bone scan is a nuclear imaging test helping to diagnose and track several types of bone disease. Your doctor may order a bone scan if you have unexplained skeletal pain, bone infection or a bone injury which can’t be seen on a standard X-ray.

A bone scan is also an important tool to detect cancer which has spread (metastasized) to the bone from the tumor’s original location, such as the breast or prostate.

Chiropractic adjustment

Chiropractic adjustment is a procedure in which trained specialists (chiropractors) use their hands or a small instrument to apply a controlled, sudden force to a spinal joint. The goal of this also known as spinal manipulation, is to correct structural alignment and improve you’re the physical function of your body.

Cortisone shots

Cortisone shots are injections which help to relieve pain and inflammation in a specific area of your body. Cortisone shots are most commonly given into the joints — such as your hip, ankle, shoulder, elbow, knee, wrist and spine. Even the small joints in your hands and feet may benefit from cortisone shots.

Usually, the cortisone shots include a corticosteroid medication and a local anesthetic. In most cases, the cortisone shots will be administered at your doctor’s office. However, the number of cortisone shots you can receive in a year is limited due to potential side effects from the medication.

Diskectomy

Diskectomy is a surgical procedure for removing the damaged portion of a herniated disk in your spine. A herniated disk will compress or irritate the nearby nerves thereby causes weakness, pain and numbness. These symptoms will affect your neck or back or they may radiate down your arms or legs.

It works best on radiating symptoms, but less helpful for actual back pain or neck pain. Most people experiencing back pain or neck pain will find relief with more-conservative treatments, such as the physical therapy or the pain medications.

Your doctor may suggest diskectomy if the nonsurgical and conservative treatments haven’t worked or if your symptoms worsen. There are several ways to perform a discectomy and most surgeons prefer the minimally invasive diskectomy, that uses small incisions and a tiny video camera for viewing.

Hip replacement

During hip replacement, a surgeon will remove the damaged sections of your hip joint and replaces them with parts which are usually constructed of metal and very hard plastic. This artificial joint or prosthesis will help to reduce pain and improve function.

Also called total hip arthroplasty, this surgery may be an option for you if your hip pain interferes with daily activities and more-conservative treatments haven’t helped. Arthritis damage is the most common reason to need a hip replacement.

Knee braces for osteoarthritis

A knee brace for osteoarthritis will help to reduce the pain by shifting your weight off the most damaged portion of your knee. This will improve your ability to get around by helping to increase the distance you can walk comfortably.

Knee braces come in a variety of designs, but most of these are constructed with a combination of rigid and flexible materials such as metal, plastic or other composite material for basic structure and support, and synthetic rubber or moldable foam to pad and position.

Knee osteotomy

Knee osteotomy is a surgical procedure recommended, if you have arthritis damage in just one area of your knee. The procedure involves removing or adding a wedge of bone to your upper shinbone (tibia) or lower thighbone (femur) to help shift your body weight off the damaged portion of your knee joint.

It is most commonly performed on people who may be considered as too young for a total knee replacement. Total knee replacements wear out much more quickly in people younger than 55 than in people older than 70.

Many people undergoing this surgery will eventually need a total knee replacement — usually about 10 to 15 years after the knee osteotomy.

Knee replacement

Knee replacement surgery, also known as knee arthroplasty (ARTH-row-plas-tee) helps to relieve pain and restore function in severely diseased knee joints. During knee replacement, a surgeon cuts away damaged bone and cartilage from your thighbone, shinbone and kneecap and replaces it with an artificial joint made of metal alloys, high-grade plastics and polymers.

The first artificial knees were little more than crude hinges. Now, you and your doctor can choose from a wide variety of designs by considering your age, weight, activity level and overall health. Most knee replacement joints attempt to replicate your knee’s natural ability to roll and glide as it bends.

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap)

Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is performed in your lower back, in the lumbar region. During lumbar puncture, a needle will be inserted between two lumbar bones (vertebrae) to remove a sample of cerebrospinal fluid which surrounds your brain and spinal cord to protect them from injury.

A lumbar puncture helps to diagnose serious infections, such as meningitis; other disorders of the central nervous system, such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis; or cancers of the brain or spinal cord. Sometimes, doctors use this to inject anesthetic medications or chemotherapy drugs into the cerebrospinal fluid.

Radiofrequency neurotomy

Radiofrequency neurotomy is a procedure for reducing the back and neck pain. Heat generated by radio waves will be used to target specific nerves and temporarily interfere with their ability to transmit pain signals.

The radio waves are delivered to the targeted nerves through the needles inserted via the skin above your spine. Imaging scans are used during radiofrequency neurotomy to help the doctor position the needles precisely.

It works better in some people than in others. Tests will determine if the nerves commonly targeted by radiofrequency neurotomy are the same nerves responsible for your pain.

Rheumatoid factor

A rheumatoid factor test measures the amount of rheumatoid factor in your blood. Rheumatoid factors are proteins produced by your immune system which can attack healthy tissue in your body.

High levels of rheumatoid factor in the blood are most often related to the autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and Sjogren’s syndrome. But rheumatoid factor may be detected in some healthy people and sometimes people with autoimmune diseases have normal levels of rheumatoid factor.

Spinal fusion

Spinal fusion is surgery to permanently connect two or more vertebrae in your spine by eliminating motion between them.

It involves the techniques designed to mimic the normal healing process of broken bones. During spinal fusion, your surgeon places bone or a bone-like material within the space between two spinal vertebrae. Metal plates, screws and rods may be used to hold the vertebrae together, so they can heal into one solid unit.

Because spinal fusion surgery immobilizes parts of your spine, it will change the way your spine can move. This places additional stress and strain on the vertebrae above and below the fused portion, and may increase the rate at which those areas of your spine degenerate.