Musculoskeletal conditions affect millions of people globally, and for many, surgery becomes the only viable path to a pain-free life. Whether it’s a young athlete with a torn ligament or an elderly patient with severe arthritis, modern orthopaedic surgery has evolved to restore function with incredible precision.
At SGVP Holistic Hospital in Ahmedabad, we perform several of these life-changing procedures every year. Our approach blends advanced robotic technology with holistic post-operative care, ensuring that surgery is not just about fixing a bone, but about reclaiming a lifestyle.
What Are the Most Common Surgeries?
The most frequently performed orthopaedic surgeries include Total Knee Replacement (TKR), Total Hip Replacement (THR), and ACL Reconstruction. These procedures primarily target severe arthritis, sports injuries, and traumatic fractures. Advances like robotic-assisted surgery and minimally invasive arthroscopy have significantly reduced recovery times, allowing patients to return to their daily routines faster than ever before.
1. Total Knee Replacement (TKR)
This is one of the most common orthopaedic procedures worldwide, primarily for patients aged 50 and above.
- Why It Is Performed: When osteoarthritis wears away the cartilage cushion between the thigh and shin bone, it causes bone-on-bone friction. TKR replaces these damaged surfaces with metal and medical-grade plastic implants.
- SGVP Advantage: We specialize in Robotic Microplasty, a technique that preserves more natural bone and ensures perfect alignment for a natural-feeling knee.
2. ACL Reconstruction
The Anterior Cruciate Ligament (ACL) is crucial for knee stability, and tears are common among athletes in sports like cricket and football.
- Why It Is Performed: A torn ACL does not heal on its own. Surgery is required to reconstruct the ligament using a graft (usually from the patient’s own hamstring) to prevent the knee from buckling during physical activity.
3. Total Hip Replacement (THR)
THR is often called the ‘surgery of the century’ for its high success rate in eliminating pain.
- Why It Is Performed: Used for severe hip arthritis or avascular necrosis (death of bone tissue due to a lack of blood supply). The damaged ball-and-socket joint is replaced with a prosthetic one.
4. Arthroscopy (Keyhole Surgery)
This is a minimally invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedure used for joints like the knee and shoulder.
- Why It Is Performed: To trim torn meniscus cartilage, remove loose bone fragments, or repair rotator cuffs without making large incisions.
- Benefit: Patients often go home the same day with minimal scarring.
5. Spinal Fusion
Back pain is a leading cause of disability, and fusion is the standard surgical solution for instability.
- Why It Is Performed: To treat conditions like spondylolisthesis (slipped vertebra) or severe scoliosis. Surgeons permanently join two or more vertebrae using bone grafts and screws to stop painful movement.
6. Laminectomy (Decompression Surgery)
Often performed in conjunction with fusion or on its own for spinal stenosis.
- Why It Is Performed: When the spinal canal narrows (stenosis), it puts pressure on the nerves, causing leg pain and numbness. This surgery removes the back part of the vertebra (lamina) to create more space for the nerves.
7. Shoulder Replacement
While less common than knee or hip replacement, it is vital for patients with severe shoulder arthritis or complex fractures.
- Why It Is Performed: To replace the damaged humeral head (ball) and glenoid (socket). In cases of severe rotator cuff tears, a Reverse Shoulder Replacement is performed to rely on the deltoid muscle instead of the torn tendons.
8. Carpal Tunnel Release
A common procedure for professionals who use computers or perform repetitive hand motions.
- Why It Is Performed: To relieve pressure on the median nerve in the wrist. The transverse carpal ligament is cut to enlarge the tunnel and relieve numbness and tingling in the fingers.
9. Fracture Repair (ORIF)
Open Reduction and Internal Fixation (ORIF) is the standard trauma surgery for broken bones that cannot heal with a simple cast.
- Why It Is Performed: Metal plates, screws, or rods are used to realign fragmented bones (like the hip, ankle, or wrist) and hold them rigidly in place until they heal.
10. Osteotomy
This is a realignment surgery often used in younger patients to delay the need for joint replacement.
- Why It Is Performed: If arthritis affects only one side of the knee (bow-legged deformity), the surgeon cuts and reshapes the bone to shift weight away from the damaged area to the healthy side.
Checklist: Preparing for Surgery at SGVP
If you are scheduled for any of these procedures, proper preparation is key to a smooth recovery.
- Medical Clearance: Complete all cardiac and blood tests to ensure you are fit for anaesthesia.
- Home Setup: Arrange for a ground-floor room or bed if you are undergoing leg surgery.
- Pre-Hab: Engage in light strengthening exercises prescribed by our physiotherapists before surgery to speed up post-op recovery.
- Medication Review: Stop blood thinners or other specific supplements as advised by your surgeon to reduce bleeding risk.
Recovery, Risks, and Outcomes
- Success Rates: Procedures like TKR and THR have a success rate of over 90% in relieving pain for 15–20 years.
- Risks: As with any major surgery, there are risks of infection, blood clots, or implant loosening. However, antibiotic prophylaxis and blood thinners significantly mitigate these.
- The SGVP Advantage: Our holistic approach integrates Ayurveda and advanced physiotherapy to reduce inflammation and accelerate healing naturally alongside surgical intervention.
Expert Validation
According to Dr Jatin Vadodariya, a Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at SGVP Holistic Hospital, the decision to undergo surgery should never be taken lightly, but delayed treatment often leads to more complex problems. He emphasises that modern orthopaedic surgery is about preservation as much as replacement. Whether it is saving a meniscus or realigning a knee, our goal is to keep you active on your own feet for as long as possible.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Pain varies by patient, but surgeries involving the spine (fusion) or major joint replacements (knee) can have significant post-op discomfort. However, modern multimodal pain management protocols at SGVP keep this well under control.
With today’s advanced materials, such as highly cross-linked polyethene and ceramics, knee and hip implants can last 20 to 25 years, making them a viable option even for younger patients.
Yes, at SGVP, we work hard as a team to ensure a rapid recovery. Most patients take their first steps with a walker within 24 hours of the surgery to prevent stiffness and blood clots.
Robotic surgery offers greater precision in bone cutting and implant placement, often resulting in a more natural-feeling joint and a quicker recovery, though traditional methods remain highly effective in skilled hands.
When to See a Doctor
If you have joint pain that wakes you up at night, limits your ability to walk more than a few blocks, or doesn’t improve with medication and physiotherapy, it is time to consult an orthopaedic specialist. Early consultation can sometimes offer alternatives to major surgery.
