The Medical City Offers High Quality, Cost-Effective Joint Replacement Surgery

Anita Colendra, 63, was diagnosed with severe osteoarthritis. The pain in her knees kept her from doing her usual activities. Climbing stairs, even walking, became too painful for her.

Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and usually in people over 40. It is a form of degenerative joint pain caused by wear and tear on your joints. People with osteoarthritis often have joint pain and reduced motion.

Persons with osteoarthritis like Anita do not have to suffer in silence. Something can be done.

Dr. Rafael Claudio, head of the Department of Orthopedics of The Medical City, said osteoarthritis can be mild, moderate or severe and oral pain relievers like analgesics and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are common first treatments. Physical therapy is also part of the treatment for osteoarthritis.

Dr. Claudio said when these conservative measures fail, one may consider joint replacement therapy. Joint replacement therapy is an advanced surgical procedure in which the arthritic or dysfunctional joint surface is replaced with an orthopedic prosthesis. The two most common forms of joint replacement are those for the hip and the knee.

Anita had total knee replacement on both sides in June 2012. After five days, she could already walk using a walker. She continued her physical rehabilitation sessions for one month.

“In August, I could already walk by myself. I was back to my normal activities, doing household chores and attending to my mini store. Now, my knees don’t hurt anymore. I feel a lot better and younger because I can go on a long walk unlike before,” said Anita.

Joint replacement is considered as a treatment when there is severe joint pain or dysfunction is not alleviated by less-invasive therapies.

Dr. Claudio said joint replacement is recommended for advanced joint disorders manifested by three criteria – chronic pain unrelieved by other measures, significant deformity of the joint and severe disability preventing ambulation.

The procedure is being offered in The Medical City through the Department of Orthopedics with its team of well-trained and experienced joint-reconstructive surgeons in coordination with other related specialists.

“Our joint replacement specialists were trained in foreign joint replacement institutions or training programs in the United States, Europe and Australia,” said Dr. Claudio. TMC uses cutting edge technology and state-of-the-art prosthetic implants for both knee and hip replacements.

Asked what sets TMC apart from other health institutions offering joint replacement, Dr. Claudio cited TMC’s multidisciplinary approach and customized care.

“We offer an experienced team of Orthopedic Surgeons, Internists, Rehab Doctors, Nurses, Physical Therapists and even Nutritionists, all dedicated to getting the patient back to his normal walking pattern,” said Dr. Claudio.

“At The Medical City, we exhaust every possible treatment option before resorting to joint replacement. We consider it as the last, rather than the first, treatment option for patients with severe osteoarthritis,” added Dr. Claudio.

Thus, each patient is carefully evaluated and prepared mentally and physically for the procedure. For some patients, physical rehabilitation starts even before the joint replacement surgery.

Another unique offering of TMC for joint replacement is its adjustable pricing.

“Cost of the procedure can be adjusted depending on the capabilities and needs of the patient without sacrificing the highest standard of care,” said Dr. Claudio. 

Relatedly, TMC launched LAKAD MULI in 2014, a joint replacement program aimed at delivering high-quality total hip and knee replacement surgery under the most affordable conditions to serve the vast population of Filipino arthritic patients.

The package covers hospital ward admission, surgery and anesthesia, joint prosthetic implant and early post-operative rehabilitation. Surgery is offered in a controlled, packaged set-up to render it significantly more affordable to patients with severe hip or knee osteoarthritis in need of surgical joint reconstruction.

To avail of the program, interested patients may consult with their orthopedic surgeon at TMC. Patients with no previous joint surgery or hip or knee replacement, those with limited resources and who are relatively healthy may be eligible for Lakad Muli program.

For more information, please call TMC Orthopedic Multispecialty Clinic (OMC) at 988-1000 or 988-7000 ext. 6521.