It’s good you are planning properly before surgery 👍

Since your mother is 70 years old with BP & diabetes, planning and safety are very important.

If surgery is advised by Dr. Viraj Gandbhir, here is a complete checklist for you.

🦵 Knee Replacement Planning Guide (Age 70, BP & Sugar)

🏥 1️⃣ Important Questions to Ask the Doctor

✅ About Surgery

Is it Total Knee Replacement (TKR) or partial?
Why is surgery necessary now? Any non-surgical option left?
What stage is arthritis? (X-ray grade?)
How long will surgery take?
What type of anesthesia – spinal or general?
How many such surgeries have you done?

✅ About Implant (Metal Knee Joint)

Which company implant? Indian or imported?
What is implant lifespan? (Usually 15–20 years)
Cemented or uncemented?
What warranty does implant have?
Why buy from you? Can we buy from hospital?
What is included in ₹2.5 lakh package?

👉 Saving ₹12,000 is okay, but:

Make sure implant is original & sealed.
Ask for batch number & bill.
Confirm hospital allows outside implant.

✅ About BP & Diabetes Risk

Since she has BP & sugar:

Ask:

Is sugar under control? (HbA1c below 7% ideal)
Is cardiology fitness required?
Will physician clearance be done?
What is infection risk in diabetic patients?
How will sugar be managed during hospital stay?

⚠️ Risks You Should Know

At age 70 with diabetes:

Infection risk ↑
Slow wound healing
Blood clot risk
BP fluctuation during surgery

Ask doctor about:

DVT prevention (blood thinner?)
ICU monitoring required?
Post-surgery infection control plan

🧾 2️⃣ Pre-Surgery Checklist

✔️ Complete blood test
✔️ HbA1c test
✔️ ECG + 2D Echo
✔️ Chest X-ray
✔️ Physician fitness
✔️ Sugar under control for at least 2–3 weeks

🏠 3️⃣ Home Preparation Before Surgery

Western toilet required
Remove floor obstacles
Arrange walker
Arrange support person for 1 month
Ground floor stay if possible
Anti-slip bathroom mat

🏥 4️⃣ Hospital Stay Planning

Stay: 3–5 days
Walking starts next day
Physiotherapy starts immediately
Full recovery: 3–6 months

💰 5️⃣ Cost Understanding (₹2.5 lakh approx)

Confirm what is included:

Implant?
OT charges?
Room charges?
ICU?
Medicines?
Physiotherapy?
Follow-up visits?

Hidden costs can increase bill.

🚶‍♀️ 6️⃣ After Surgery Care

Strict sugar control
Daily physiotherapy (VERY IMPORTANT)
No Indian toilet
No sitting cross-legged
No sudden twisting
Antibiotics complete course

🧠 Final Important Question to Ask

What happens if we delay surgery?
What are non-surgical options? (Injections? Physiotherapy?)
What is success rate at her age?

💡 My Honest Suggestion

Before finalizing:
✔️ Take one more orthopedic opinion
✔️ Ensure sugar control first
✔️ Don’t decide based only on ₹12,000 saving

At 70, safety > cost saving.

If you want, tell me:

Current sugar level?
BP level?
City of surgery?

what patients and sources online say about Dr Viraj Gandbhir (Orthopaedic & Knee Replacement Surgeon in Parel, Mumbai):

✅ General Feedback & Reputation

He has very strong review ratings online (around 5⭐) with many positive comments on his care quality and communication.
Patients often mention that he explains conditions clearly and listens well, which helps them understand the treatment plan.
Multiple verified patients say they were satisfied with the treatment results and recovery support after procedures.

👍 Common Positives From Reviews

Friendly and humble communication style.
Takes time to explain diagnosis and treatment.
Clinic experience is comfortable and staff are helpful.
Good value for money according to some patients.

🩺 Practice & Experience

He’s trained in orthopaedics and has UK fellowship experience and awards in shoulder and knee care.
His profile shows experience in both general orthopaedic issues and joint replacement procedures.

🧠 Important Things to Know Before Deciding

While feedback is generally positive, consider:

🔹 Number of Knee Replacement Cases

Most online reviews (like on Practo) reflect general orthopaedic and consultation feedback, not specifically TKR success rates. There are limited publicly visible reviews specifically for knee replacement surgeries. It’s good to ask directly how many TKRs he has done yourself.

🔹 Compare with Highly Specialized Surgeons

In Mumbai there are other very experienced knee replacement specialists (e.g., Dr Niraj Vora at Nanavati / advanced robotic replacements) with long TKR-focused track records and many patient testimonials.

This doesn’t mean Dr Gandbhir isn’t good — just that some surgeons get more patient testimonials for major knee replacement surgeries.

🧾 Questions You Can Ask Him to Verify Fit

📌 How many total knee replacements has he performed?
📌 What is his infection rate and complication rate in diabetic/elderly patients?
📌 Does he use robotic / navigation-assisted surgery?
📌 Can he show before/after outcomes or patient references?
📌 What rehabilitation plan does he use post-surgery?

🧠 Summary

✔️ Generally good feedback for orthopaedic treatment and patient communication.
✔️ Patients find him approachable and clear in explanation.
⚠️ Publicly available reviews specifically for knee replacement surgeries (TKR) are fewer — so ask directly about his TKR volume and outcomes before committing.

Rajesh Sabbani

Mom Replacement Steps