Total Knee Replacement (TKR) surgery has become quite prevalent in recent years and is a highly long-lasting solution, with advantages lasting over 25 years in at least 8 out of 10 patient, as per a research published in the Lancet magazine in 2019.

Continuous improvements have been seen in this field. In Nagpur, doctors have begun to use the Enhanced Recovery Protocol (ERP), which has significantly reduced the length of hospital stay following TKR.

ERP has proved to have long-term benefits and satisfaction among patients.  Patients eating and drinking habits resume to normal immediately after surgery without experiencing much weakness. Within three to four hours of surgery, 90% of patients start walking. Within 2-3 days, all patients can independently use the toilet and climb stairs, allowing them to return home sooner. Owing to minimally invasive surgical procedures, patients feel less pain and less tissue damage. They regain range of motion more quickly and resume normal activities considerably sooner.

According to experts, ERP is vital for all ages, but notably for younger, active, and working individuals. Enhanced TKR recovery is also linked to less bleeding, a faster recovery, a greater range of motion, and a lower risk of complications.

Even government hospitals adhere to the normal procedure, which includes ERP. In GMCs, hip joint replacement is more common. Patients from low-income families can benefit from initiatives such as Ayushman Bharat and Mahatma Phule Jan Arogya Yojna. They get back to work and recuperate quickly.