Question 1

When should I consider knee replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Knee replacement is worth discussing when pain limits everyday life despite medicines, physiotherapy and weight management. Warning signs include pain at rest or at night, difficulty walking short distances, visible bowing of the leg, and dependence on painkillers. An examination and standing X-rays confirm whether the joint damage explains your symptoms and whether surgery is the right next step.

Question 2

Am I too old, or too young, for a knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

There is no fixed age limit. Fitness for surgery matters more than the number. Patients in their 80s undergo knee replacement safely after a proper medical check-up, and younger patients with severe arthritis are no longer asked to simply live with pain, because modern implants last much longer than earlier generations. The decision is always individual.

Question 3

How long does a knee replacement implant last?

Accepted Answer

Registry data shows that modern knee implants function well beyond 15 to 20 years in most patients, and many last longer. Longevity depends on implant positioning, bone quality, body weight and activity. Precise alignment during surgery and sensible activity afterwards give your new joint the best chance of lasting decades.

Question 4

How soon will I walk after joint replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

With rapid-recovery protocols, most patients stand and take their first steps with support on the day of surgery or the next morning. Walking early improves circulation, reduces complications and builds confidence. You will use a walker for the first days, progress to a stick, and most patients walk independently indoors within two to three weeks.

Question 5

How painful is recovery after knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Discomfort is expected in the first days, but modern anaesthesia, nerve blocks and multimodal pain medication keep it well controlled. Most patients describe the surgical pain as very manageable and different from the deep arthritic pain they lived with before. Pain settles steadily over the first few weeks as walking and exercises progress.

Question 6

Can both knees be replaced in the same operation?

Accepted Answer

Yes, in selected patients. Simultaneous bilateral knee replacement suits medically fit patients with severe arthritis in both knees, and it means one anaesthesia, one hospital stay and one rehabilitation period. For patients with heart, lung or kidney concerns, staged surgery a few months apart is safer. A pre-operative assessment guides the choice.

Question 7

What decides the cost of a joint replacement?

Accepted Answer

Cost varies with the implant design and material, the room category you choose, the length of hospital stay, and whether one or both joints are treated. Most health insurance policies cover joint replacement. Rather than a single number, ask for a detailed estimate after your consultation so it reflects your knee, your implant and your insurance.

Question 8

When is hip replacement recommended?

Accepted Answer

Hip replacement is advised for advanced arthritis, avascular necrosis of the femoral head, certain hip fractures, and childhood hip conditions that have worn the joint. The usual signals are groin or thigh pain on walking, a limp, difficulty wearing footwear or crossing the leg, and pain that interrupts sleep despite medication.

Question 9

What is avascular necrosis, and can it be treated without surgery?

Accepted Answer

Avascular necrosis, or AVN, is loss of blood supply to the femoral head, which can cause the bone to collapse. Caught very early, it may be managed with protected walking, medication or a small decompression procedure. Once the head has collapsed and arthritis has set in, hip replacement gives the most reliable and lasting relief.

Question 10

What is arthroscopy, and what problems can it treat?

Accepted Answer

Arthroscopy is keyhole surgery. A small camera and fine instruments enter the joint through cuts less than a centimetre long. It treats ligament tears, meniscus injuries, cartilage damage, loose bodies and shoulder problems such as rotator cuff tears and recurrent dislocation. Small incisions mean less pain, lower infection risk and faster recovery.

Question 11

Is arthroscopy a day-care procedure?

Accepted Answer

Many arthroscopic procedures, including meniscus surgery and some ligament reconstructions, are done as day-care or single-night admissions. You walk the same day, usually with a brace or crutches depending on the procedure. Your fitness, anaesthesia type and home support decide whether same-day discharge is right for you.

Question 12

How do I know if I have torn my ACL?

Accepted Answer

A typical ACL injury involves a twisting fall or sports tackle, often with a popping sensation, rapid swelling within hours, and a feeling that the knee gives way afterwards. Some people walk comfortably in a straight line yet feel unstable when turning. Clinical examination and an MRI scan confirm the tear and reveal any associated meniscus injury.

Question 13

Does every ACL tear need surgery?

Accepted Answer

No. People with low physical demands and a stable knee can do well with structured physiotherapy. Surgery is recommended for athletes, active people whose knee gives way, and patients with associated meniscus or multi-ligament injuries, because repeated instability episodes damage the cartilage over time. The right choice depends on your age, sport and goals.

Question 14

How long is recovery after ACL reconstruction?

Accepted Answer

Most patients walk without crutches within two to three weeks and return to desk work in one to two weeks. Jogging typically begins around three months, and return to competitive pivoting sports takes eight to twelve months, guided by strength and stability testing rather than the calendar. Committing to physiotherapy is the biggest factor in a strong result.

Question 15

What is the difference between an ACL and a PCL injury?

Accepted Answer

The ACL sits at the front of the knee and usually tears in sports that involve twisting. The PCL sits at the back and is more often injured by a direct blow, such as a dashboard impact in a road accident. Isolated PCL injuries are often managed with bracing and rehabilitation, while combined or unstable injuries may need reconstruction.

Question 16

Will I be able to climb stairs and sit on the floor after knee replacement?

Accepted Answer

Stair climbing returns for nearly all patients, usually within a few weeks. Floor sitting and squatting depend on the implant design, your pre-operative flexibility and your progress in physiotherapy. Many patients with high-flexion implants manage cross-legged sitting for prayers or meals, though we advise against habitual deep squatting to protect the joint.

Question 17

When can I drive, work and travel after joint replacement?

Accepted Answer

Most patients resume desk work within two to four weeks and drive at four to six weeks, once the leg is strong enough for an emergency stop and painkillers are no longer needed. Air travel is usually comfortable after four to six weeks. Physically demanding jobs need a longer, individually planned return.

Question 18

What are the risks of delaying a needed joint replacement?

Accepted Answer

Waiting too long allows the deformity to worsen, muscles to weaken and the spine and opposite joint to strain from an altered walking pattern. Severe stiffness and bone loss can make eventual surgery technically harder and slow the recovery. If surgery has been advised, a planned timeline generally gives a better result than surgery forced by a crisis.

Question 19

How should I prepare for joint replacement surgery?

Accepted Answer

Good preparation improves results. This includes a medical fitness check, optimising diabetes and blood pressure, treating dental or urinary infections beforehand, stopping smoking, and pre-operative exercises to strengthen the thigh and hip muscles. At home, arrange a walking path free of loose rugs, a raised toilet seat if advised, and a family member for the first days.

Question 20

Why choose a fellowship-trained joint replacement and arthroscopy surgeon?

Accepted Answer

Focused fellowship training means the surgeon has spent dedicated years on joint replacement and sports injury surgery beyond the general orthopaedic degree, with exposure to international techniques and high surgical volumes. That depth shows in surgical precision, fewer complications and honest advice about when surgery is not needed. Ask any surgeon about their training and how often they perform your procedure.

Move Without Pain Again.

A surgeon trained where the standards are highest

Focused on the joints that keep you moving

Knee Replacement

Hip Replacement

Shoulder Replacement

ACL Reconstruction

PCL Surgery

Arthroscopy

Sports Injury

Fracture & Trauma

Why patients choose Dr. Saini

Modern techniques

Precision surgery

Early recovery

International training

Personal attention

Evidence-based care

From Delhi's gold medal to Surat's operating theatre

Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi

LHMC & RML Hospital

FIASM · DIP. SICOT · FJR · FIFA

Senior Consultant, Shalby Hospital Surat

Recognition earned the quiet way

Times of India Healthcare Leadership Excellence Award

Gold Medal, MBBS

Recognitions, media & leadership

Hello Fitness Cover Story

Times Healthcare Leader Award

Felicitation & Assembly Honor

Keynote Address & Academics

Surgical Team Leadership

Published, peer reviewed, practised

European Journal of Orthopaedics and Traumatology

Journal of Clinical Orthopaedics and Trauma

International Journal of Hand Surgery

Asian Journal of Arthroscopy

In their own words

Answers before you even ask