Knee replacement surgery is clinically established, outcomes are reliable: Dr Dilbans Singh Pandher

PTC Web Desk: Arthritis cases are rising steadily in India, patients are getting younger and the gap between those who seek timely treatment and those who don’t remains wide. Dr Dilbans Singh Pandher, a senior orthopaedic and joint replacement Surgeon, an executive member of the Indian Arthroplasty Association and the Jalandhar Orthopaedic Society, speaks on what’s changing and what patients must understand on basis of his 20 years of experience in complex orthopaedic procedures at SGL Hospital, Mustafabad and New Ruby Hospital, Jalandhar.

Q1: What are you seeing in terms of arthritis burden in India today?

Dr. Pandher: The shift is significant. A decade ago, the typical knee replacement patient was in their late sixties. Today, I’m routinely seeing patients in their late forties and early fifties. Sedentary lifestyles, obesity, dietary changes, all of it is accelerating joint degeneration across age groups. The burden is real, it’s growing, and it’s arriving earlier than it used to.

Q2: Many patients still delay seeking treatment despite the pain. Why does this happen?

Dr. Pandher: Fear of surgery is the biggest reason, followed by concerns about  recovery time and cost. There’s also a deep-seated tendency in India to push through pain — to treat endurance as the only option. By the time most patients reach me, they’ve been managing for years. The joint is more damaged, the surrounding muscles have weakened, and what could have been a straightforward procedure becomes more complex. The delay always has a cost.

Q3: You use an AI-assisted Precision Arthroplasty System in your surgeries. What does that actually mean for the patient on the table?

Dr. Pandher: The AI-assisted Precision Arthroplasty System brings real-time, intraoperative data into the surgical process. We attach small trackers to specific bony landmarks, and the system continuously provides highly accurate information about limb alignment, joint balance, and implant positioning as I operate. I am performing the surgery and making every decision throughout the procedure. The AI-assisted Precision Arthroplasty System does not replace the surgeon, it enhances surgical precision by providing an accurate, dynamic picture of what’s happening inside the joint at every stage of the operation. Think of it as having an exceptionally precise instrument panel.

The surgeon is still flying the aircraft, but with far more advanced instruments to guide every decision.

Q4: Who is a good candidate for knee replacement surgery?

Dr. Pandher: Any patient with advanced knee arthritis whose quality of life is significantly affected and for whom conservative management, medication, and physiotherapy have stopped delivering relief. Age is less of a barrier than people assume. What matters is the degree of joint damage and the patient’s functional goals. Younger patients want to stay active longer. Older patients want their independence back. Both are valid, and both are achievable.

Q5: What does recovery look like after a hip or knee replacement, and how do you help patients recover faster?

Dr Pandher: Recovery begins far earlier than most expect. With modern techniques, effective pain management and our AI-assisted Precision Arthroplasty System, most patients are standing and walking within hours of surgery. For select patients, we also offer day-care joint replacement; home the same day. We’re expanding this responsibly based on patient profile and support systems.

But surgery is only half the journey. Rehabilitation is equally critical. We’re based in one of India’s largest NRI belts, and many patients travel from overseas — or from Patna, Gwalior, Uttarakhand, and the Andaman Islands for their procedures at our centre. For many of them, frequent physiotherapy visits aren’t always practical. That’s why we developed a structured, video-based rehabilitation programme patients follow at home, at their own pace. Compliance and outcomes have both improved significantly. I tell every patient: stay committed to your rehabilitation and the results can be remarkable. I’ve seen patients walking unaided and climbing stairs within days. Precise surgery, a structured rehabilitation programme and an actively engaged patient changes everything.

Q6: What would you say to a patient who has been putting off this decision?

Dr. Pandher: That arthritis does not wait. Every month of delay means more cartilage loss, more muscle weakening, and a longer road to recovery after surgery. The procedure patients are afraid of today is far more precise and controlled than what they have heard about or imagined. Knee replacement surgery is clinically established, outcomes are reliable, and recovery is faster than ever. One consultation is all it takes to understand where you stand. Don’t let fear make a medical decision for you.