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Journey to India for two new Journey knees - a medical tourism
Desirous of remaining active for the rest of her life, Nancy from Colorado, journeyed to India for getting two Journey knee replacements to serve her in the journey of her life.
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February 12, 2010 (FPRC) -- Nancy, an American lady undertook a journey half way around the world to get two new knees. A former physical education trainer from Colorado, Nancy now lives a relaxed life on a boat in Lapaz, Mexico for the last ten years. She blames her active life style for her knee arthritis but is not willing to give it up even after knee replacements. She wants to do Salsa dancing, skiing and play Tennis.
A unique implant called the Journey knee was implanted in both her knees by Dr.A.K.Venkatachalam, Orthopedic surgeon at the Madras Joint Replacement Center.
She looked for surgeons in the US, Mexico but couldn't find anyone doing this particular type of knee replacement.
She zeroed in on this doctor after researching her options for nearly two years.
She preferred the Journey Oxinium knee as it is the only implant in the orthopedic knee device space that behaves almost like a normal human knee.
“Patients these days want more than just pain relief” says Dr.Venkat, who performed staggered bilateral knee replacements on Nancy.
They want small incisions, better pain relief, quicker recovery, better bending and a feeling of a normal knee” says the orthopedic surgeon. The Journey Oxinium knee delivers on all counts.
The surgeon used 4 inch long incisions and a midvastus approach to implant these knees. Nancy was very much satisfied with the pain relief practice of the hospital. She stood up on day 1 and climbed stairs on day 4 after her first knee.
Talking about the Journey knee, Dr. Venkatachalam says that the biomechanics & kinematics are really different. Kinematics is the science of study of implants & joints in motion.
Dr. Venkatachalam has implanted the device in 12 knees so far and says this design is different from traditional implants.
"They tend to just glide and bend whereas this one rotates or pivots as it bends," he said.
This pivoting is what happens to your knee during a golf swing. It's more natural. "People are very interested in how much their knee bends now, not just how it doesn't hurt anymore," said Dr. Venkat of the Madras Joint replacement center (www.kneeindia.com)
"I feel there is more movement, that I can move smoother when I twist my leg around this way," said a previous patient Paul Jackman Graham from England who also had bilateral Journey knee replacements in December 2009 by the same surgeon. Before me there is only a new life. I am thrilled to be able to walk along the Thames River to London Bridge and back from where I live in Sussex, England says Paul.
Results show the unique ceramic coating in the Oxinium knee has an 85-percent reduction in wear. The hope is the implant will last longer. This is important considering that there is a growing demographic of younger people demanding total knee replacement.
Smith & Nephew an Orthopedic device company sells these implants worldwide and also in India. India is a leading player in medical tourism for knee & hip replacements.
Madras Joint replacement centre in Chennai, India offers hip resurfacing, Hip, Knee & Shoulder replacements at affordable costs in 5 * private hospital
Send an email to Dr.Venkatachalam of MJRC
91 9176640002
Keywords:
Knee replacements, Journey, India
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