Medical Tourism in India, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia

Picture this.
A total hip procedure costs £7000 to £9000 in UK
But a hip replacement surgery in India costs £3,700 or less

Plus, you get treated by world-renowned doctors in internationally accredited hospitals. Your package could even include a short vacation in scenic Indian backwaters. Medical tourism for orthopedics is catching up big time in countries like India, Singapore, Thailand and Philippines. And affordable costs are just one of the myriad reasons for it.

Hip arthritis is a painful condition caused by the friction in the ball and socket joint between the thigh and pelvis bone. This occurs due to the wear and tear on the cartilage lining over the years. Patients with this type of arthritis are unable to sleep at night because of the pain and get little or no relief from pain medications. Patients also experience difficulty walking up or down stairs. In short, the quality of life goes down as patients no longer enjoy simple pleasures like walking.

Hip replacement surgery is indeed a boon to patients with problems of hip arthritis. This procedure helps relieve pain by alleviating the problems caused by friction. During a total hip replacement surgery, the painful parts of the hip are replaced with artificial hip parts called prosthesis. Prosthesis is a device that substitutes or supplements a joint. The prosthesis consists of steel components: a socket, ball, and stem. The socket’s outer shell is usually made of metal and the inner shell is made of plastic. But sometimes, the entire socket may be plastic. When the metal ball is attached to the socket, it allows for the smooth, nearly frictionless movement of the hip.

Great preparation is required prior to the surgery. Usually, the patient’s smoking habits, weight gain, blood pressure, hormonal levels, and heart and lung functions are monitored by health care professionals. Patients are advised to reduce body weight if needed, and finish up on all dental work to prevent infections.

Hip replacement surgery involves a 10-inch long incision on the side of the hip and thigh area. The implants used in this surgery may be affixed using:
- Bone Cement
A special type of bone acrylic cement that takes about15 minute to set.
- Press-Fit
Press-fit components have a special porous coating which allows tissue to grow up to it for fixation.
- Combination
In some cases, a combination of bone cement and press-fit are used in this surgery.

After surgery, physiotherapy is used to speed up the recovery process. Patients may have to walk with a crutch for a while and recovery may take up to six weeks. Care should be taken to not cross the legs, bend, or lean forward.