If you live abroad and are considering orthopaedic surgery in India, the operation is only one part of the decision. You also need to know what records to send, how firm an online plan can be, what the quote covers, how long to remain in India and who will look after you once you are home.
This guide explains how we organise that work at Aster MIMS Kannur. It is meant for both NRIs and foreign nationals considering knee replacement, hip replacement, ACL reconstruction or revision joint replacement. Your own plan may be shorter, longer or quite different. The point is to find that out early.
On this page
Start with the records, not the flight
A message saying “I need a knee replacement” gives me very little to work with. A useful review starts with the story behind the problem. When did the pain begin? What can you no longer do? Which treatments have you tried? Have you had an operation on that joint before? Your medicines and other health conditions matter too.
The scans need to be usable. For a primary knee or hip replacement, recent weight-bearing X-rays are usually more helpful than an old MRI. An ACL assessment needs the MRI images, the radiologist's report and a clear account of instability or giving way. A revision case needs much more: old operation notes, implant stickers if available, serial X-rays and any infection tests.
A useful first record set
- A short symptom history and your main treatment goal
- Your medication list, allergies and important medical conditions
- Recent reports and the original DICOM scan files where possible
- Previous operation and implant records for a revision case
- Your passport country, likely travel window and whether someone will accompany you
You can begin through the international patient service or request a second opinion. Share the records you already have; the team will help identify anything else needed.
What you receive after remote review
The remote review is free. Once the records are complete and readable, the initial-review target is 24 to 48 calendar hours. Dr Vishnu considers the history and imaging to identify reasonable options, any further tests and a provisional treatment pathway. Sometimes non-surgical care is the sensible next step.
When surgery appears suitable, the reply can outline the likely operation, the main alternatives, the tests still needed and an estimated package. It can also help with the length of the trip. For a revision case, the first answer may be less definite because infection tests, new imaging or implant information can change the reconstruction plan.
A remote review should reduce uncertainty before travel. It should never pretend that the examination has already happened.
The final diagnosis, procedure, implant and fitness for anaesthesia are confirmed after the required in-person assessment. Occasionally that assessment changes the plan. It may even show that surgery should be delayed. A patient-friendly service has to make room for that answer.
A clear path from enquiry to surgery
Most international cases follow the same broad sequence. The details change, but the order matters.
Share the records and check what is missing
You can begin with the records you already have. The team helps identify missing information.
Receive a provisional clinical and cost plan
You learn what appears reasonable, which questions remain and what the planned hospital package covers.
Choose dates and arrange documents
The team coordinates the hospital date, visa-support letter, airport transfer and accommodation if required. Robotic knee dates also depend on CORI availability.
Complete the in-person assessment
Dr Vishnu examines you, reviews new tests and confirms whether the proposed surgery remains the right choice.
Have surgery and begin rehabilitation
Mobilisation and physiotherapy start according to the procedure and your medical condition.
Recover locally before travelling
The wound, pain, mobility and general health are reassessed before advice about the return flight.
Continue care at home
Your local doctor and physiotherapist receive the clinical information they need. Video review supports the plan where appropriate.
What happens after you arrive in Kannur?
The first appointment is not a formality before an operation that has already been decided. It is where the provisional plan is tested. I examine the joint, review the imaging at full quality and check whether anything has changed since the online review.
You may need new X-rays, blood tests or other investigations. A physician or anaesthetist may need to assess medical conditions and current medicines. Do not stop a blood thinner, diabetes medicine or any other regular treatment on your own before travelling. The team will give instructions after reviewing the exact drug and your health.
If the findings support surgery, we confirm the procedure, implant plan, main risks, alternatives and expected rehabilitation. If they do not, the plan changes. In a revision case, aspiration results, cultures or more detailed imaging can delay the final decision. This is why an international schedule needs some room around the proposed operation date.
Understanding the package before you agree
The standard international surgical package covers the planned hospital episode from admission to discharge. That includes room rent, consumables and disposables, medicines during admission, consultations, inpatient physiotherapy, the agreed implant, operating-theatre charges, surgeon fees and anaesthesia charges.
Travel, visa costs and additional hotel stays are not part of the standard package. If you need airport transfer, accommodation or other travel support, the team can arrange a custom package around those requirements.
The estimated ranges confirmed by Dr Vishnu on 29 August 2026 are USD 2,500 to 3,000 for one primary TKR, UKA or THR, USD 4,000 to 4,500 for bilateral primary TKR or UKA, and USD 1,500 to 2,500 for ACL reconstruction. Robotic assistance adds USD 600 once to the surgical package, making the knee ranges USD 3,100 to 3,600 for one knee and USD 4,600 to 5,100 for a bilateral package. Revision joint replacement needs a custom estimate based on the diagnosis and required reconstruction.
These figures help with early planning. Your dated written hospital estimate should name the proposed operation and its scope; that is the estimate that applies to your case.
Do you need someone to travel with you?
There is no blanket rule that every patient must bring a companion. The answer depends on the operation, your age and health, how independently you can move, the accommodation and the trip home. A fit patient having a straightforward arthroscopy may need less help than someone having bilateral knee replacement or revision surgery.
If you plan to travel alone, say so during the first review. The coordinator can then discuss airport assistance, transfers and where you will stay after discharge. Hospital staff care for you during admission, but the days outside hospital still need a safe plan for meals, medicines, washing, exercises and transport to review appointments.
Some patients prefer a family member to be present for the discussion and early recovery. Others value privacy and arrange practical support instead. Either choice can work when it is planned honestly.
How long should you plan to remain in India?
The usual inpatient stay is two days after an arthroscopy or ACL reconstruction and three days after a primary joint replacement. That does not tell you when to fly. It only describes the usual hospital phase.
For a flight longer than four hours, the first reassessment is usually planned 7 to 14 days after uncomplicated isolated ACL reconstruction or selected arthroscopy, 14 to 21 days after an uncomplicated one-sided UKA, TKR or THR, and 21 to 28 days after bilateral knee replacement. A straightforward aseptic revision is usually reviewed for travel at 4 to 6 weeks or later. Infection-related or staged revision has no preset window.
These are planning windows. They are not tickets stamped “safe to fly”. The wound, mobility, pain, blood-clot risk, medicines, other health problems, route and airline rules all matter. Flexible flights and accommodation are useful for a reason.
What good follow-up looks like after you leave
Before departure, the care plan should include a discharge summary, operative record, implant details, medicine list, wound advice and rehabilitation handover. These let a doctor or physiotherapist at home understand what was done and which restrictions apply. The printable handover sheet keeps the main points together. [3]
Follow-up with Dr Vishnu is included as appropriate for your case. Remote reviews can support recovery and discussion with your local team, but cannot rule out every complication.
Video follow-up is available for planned review. The follow-up guide explains how that fits with hands-on care near home. Urgent local care should never depend on waiting for an overseas reply.
