There comes a point when a painful joint starts dictating the small decisions of the day. Taking the stairs becomes a calculation, getting up from a chair takes a little planning, and a walk that once felt ordinary is suddenly something to be avoided. When severe joint damage continues despite medicines, physiotherapy and other non-surgical measures, joint arthroplasty, or joint replacement surgery, may be considered.
The procedure involves removing damaged joint surfaces and replacing them with artificial components, with the aim of reducing pain and restoring useful movement. It is most commonly performed for the knee and hip, although replacement surgery is also available for joints such as the shoulder and elbow. At STAR Hospitals, joint replacement forms part of our comprehensive orthopaedic and trauma services.
When Does a Joint Need Replacing?
Joint replacement is generally considered when damage has become extensive enough to interfere with everyday life and other treatments are no longer providing adequate relief. Osteoarthritis is a common reason, although rheumatoid arthritis, previous injury, fractures, avascular necrosis and other forms of joint degeneration can also lead to the need for replacement.
A person may begin to notice:
- Persistent pain while walking or performing routine activities
- Stiffness and a reduced range of movement
- Difficulty climbing stairs or getting up from a chair
- Swelling around the joint
- A change in the shape or alignment of the joint
- Pain that starts interfering with sleep or daily activities
Age by itself does not decide whether someone needs a replacement. The more useful question is how badly the joint is damaged and how much that damage is affecting the person's function and quality of life.
What Happens During Arthroplasty?
The damaged portions of the joint are removed and replaced with components designed to allow the joint to move more smoothly. With total knee replacement, for example, damaged surfaces of the knee are replaced with prosthetic components. In some carefully selected patients, only the affected compartment of the knee may need replacing; this is known as a partial knee replacement. STAR Hospitals also performs revision or redo knee replacement when an earlier implant has become loose, worn, infected or otherwise failed.
Hip replacement follows a similar principle, with damaged parts of the hip joint replaced by prosthetic components. The choice of procedure and implant depends on factors such as the extent of joint damage, bone quality, age, activity level and overall health.
Robotic-Assisted Joint Replacement
Robotic assistance has become part of modern joint replacement, although the technology does not operate independently. The surgeon remains responsible for the procedure, while the robotic system provides computer-assisted planning and guidance that can help with implant positioning and alignment.
STAR Hospitals uses the VELYS Robotic-Assisted Surgery System for robotic joint replacement. Its orthopaedic programme offers robotic-assisted knee replacement as well as joint replacement and complex reconstructive procedures through its robotic surgery programme.
STAR also offers conventional approaches, so robotic surgery is not automatically the right choice for every patient. The appropriate technique depends on the joint, the extent of damage and the surgeon's assessment.
What About Recovery?
The operation is only one part of getting the joint working again. After replacement, physiotherapy helps the patient gradually regain movement, strength, balance and confidence in using the joint.
Recovery varies considerably. A patient's age, muscle strength, general health, the joint that was replaced and the type of procedure all have a bearing on how quickly normal activities can resume. STAR Hospitals includes post-operative physiotherapy and rehabilitation within its orthopaedic care, with physiotherapists assisting patients after joint replacement procedures.
Patients are usually encouraged to begin moving the operated joint as advised by their medical team rather than remaining in bed for prolonged periods. Rehabilitation then progresses gradually, according to recovery.
Joint Arthroplasty at STAR Hospitals
STAR Hospitals' Orthopaedics and Trauma services provide treatment across the course of a joint problem, from non-surgical care through advanced replacement procedures and rehabilitation. Its listed joint replacement services include:
- Total and partial knee replacement
- Hip replacement
- Shoulder and elbow joint replacement
- Revision or redo knee and hip replacement
- Robotic-assisted knee replacement
- Minimally invasive joint replacement
- Bilateral knee replacement, where appropriate
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation following surgery
- Advanced imaging and computer-assisted techniques to support surgical planning and precision
The hospital also has orthopaedic surgeons with specific expertise in arthroplasty. Dr Shashi Kanth G performs lower-limb hip, knee and ankle joint replacement, including robotic procedure.
A joint replacement is ultimately meant to solve a very practical problem: helping a person move with considerably less pain and greater ease. Whether that requires medication and physiotherapy, a partial replacement, a total replacement or a revision procedure is something that has to be decided after examining the joint and understanding the patient's everyday difficulties. At STAR Hospitals, that decision sits within a broader orthopaedic pathway that brings diagnosis, surgery and rehabilitation together.
