Knee Surgery Abroad

Arthroplasty

With Medtral New Zealand you can have knee surgery performed by a highly qualified and experienced English speaking orthopedic specialist, in a world class private hospital - and enjoy comprehensive aftercare both in hospital and while recuperating in your high quality hotel. Medtral New Zealand makes the whole process of knee surgery abroad easy by taking care of every detail, so you can focus your energies on getting better.

Affordable knee surgery abroad

Our total knee replacement (TKR) surgery travel packages cost from US$28,800 (expected stay in New Zealand 2-3 weeks). This price includes:

return flights from North America (West Coast)
hospital stay of 5-6 days in a single room
hotel accommodation after the operation
all surgical procedures and expected medical costs
Implants (manufactured in the USA)
physical therapy (in-patient and out-patient)
Aftercare in your hotel (nurse visits)
contingency insurance (to cover any serious adverse events).

What causes knee damage?

The most common cause is arthritis (inflammation of the joint). Arthritis destroys the cartilage that usually acts as a shock absorber between the bones that form the knee joint. Loss of this cartilage leaves the bones of the joint rubbing against each other. Without the normal gliding surface, your knee becomes painful, swollen, stiff and difficult to move. As the cartilage breaks down further, the joint loses its shape, the bone underneath thickens and grows out at the sides, further reducing movement.

Do you need knee replacement surgery?

You may require a knee replacement for the following reasons:

chronic pain that is not relieved by anti-inflammatory medications, physical therapy, and the use of a cane or other devices
pain is so severe that it restricts work, walking, recreation, and daily activities
sleep is disturbed due to night pain
the knee is very stiff and may be swollen
avascular necrosis (a lack of blood supply to the ends of the bones) has damaged the joint; this is usually caused by trauma.

What are the risks of this operation?

There is a small risk associated with receiving a general anesthetic including:

allergic reactions to medications
blood loss requiring transfusion with its low risk of disease transmission
heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, pneumonia, bladder infections
complications from nerve blocks such as infection or nerve damage
serious medical problems that can lead to ongoing health concerns, prolonged hospitalization or rarely death.

Specific risks include:

Wound irritation. Your scar can be sensitive or have a surrounding area of numbness. This normally decreases over time and does not lead to any problems with your new joint.

Persistent knee stiffness. It is important to work hard at regaining movements within the knee and this may be aided while you are in hospital by a special machine called a continuous passive motion machine (CPM). We aim to have at least 90 degrees of knee flexion before leaving hospital. It is important for you to do your knee exercises daily.

Infection. Infection, although rare, can be a major problem, which is difficult to treat and sometimes results in removal of the implant. Antibiotics are given during and after the operation. Infection can be reduced to less than 1% by the use of sealed space suits and operating in a special laminar flow theater.

It is important not to have any infections at the time of surgery, including teeth problems, bladder or skin infections. It is recommended that you have a dental check-up within six months prior to surgery, as it is important not to have any major dental work for six months after the surgery.

Blood clots. Blood clots in the leg can be a complication of any major surgery especially surgery involving long periods of time immobile. Such clots can form in the calf muscles and can travel to the lung (pulmonary embolism). These can occasionally be serious and even life threatening.

Other rare complications include failure to relieve pain, dislocation of the patella (kneecap), ligament injuries and damage to nerves or blood vessels

If you can’t find the answers you’re looking for, please contact us for further information.

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