Knee Osteoarthritis: What Works Before You Consider Surgery
Knee pain in Indian adults often starts a decade earlier than in Western populations. Most patients can delay or avoid replacement — but not by resting the knee.
Read articleAbout the Orthopaedics department
Orthopaedics at SIMS treats the full range of bone, joint, ligament and spine problems — from a farm or road-traffic fracture arriving through the emergency department at midnight, to a planned knee replacement for a patient whose osteoarthritis has made walking to the temple impossible.
Trauma is a large part of the workload in this district. The department manages open and closed fractures with plating, nailing and external fixation, and coordinates with plastic surgery for soft-tissue cover where an injury has damaged skin and muscle.
On the elective side, total knee and hip replacement, arthroscopic surgery for shoulder and knee ligament injuries, and non-surgical treatment of back pain are the most common reasons for consultation. Every joint replacement patient goes through a structured pre-operative assessment and a physiotherapy plan that begins the day after surgery.
Conditions we treat
The presentations seen most often in this department. If your symptom is not listed, book a consultation anyway — the clinic will redirect you if another speciality fits better.
- Fractures and dislocations
- Knee and hip osteoarthritis
- Ligament tears — ACL, meniscus, rotator cuff
- Low back pain and sciatica
- Cervical and lumbar spondylosis
- Frozen shoulder and tennis elbow
- Osteoporosis and fragility fractures
- Sports injuries
- Bone and joint infection
- Congenital and paediatric orthopaedic problems
Procedures and services
- Closed reduction and plaster immobilisation
- Internal fixation with plates, screws and intramedullary nails
- External fixation for open fractures
- Total knee replacement
- Total hip replacement
- Arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery
- Spine decompression and stabilisation
- Intra-articular injection and joint aspiration
- Post-operative physiotherapy and gait training
Technology and support
Equipment matters only when it is available at the moment of need. These services sit on the same campus, with laboratory and imaging cover round the clock.
- Modular operation theatre with laminar airflow
- C-arm image intensifier for intra-operative imaging
- Arthroscopy system
- Digital X-ray and CT support
- Physiotherapy and rehabilitation gymnasium
When to seek urgent care
Do not wait for an outpatient appointment if any of the following applies. Call 9281862028 or come straight to the emergency department, which is open 24 hours and does not require an appointment.
- A limb that is visibly deformed, cold or numb after injury
- Inability to bear weight after a fall, especially in older adults
- Back pain with leg weakness or loss of bladder control
- A hot, swollen, painful joint with fever
Frequently asked questions
Who is the best orthopaedic doctor in Anantapur?
The right orthopaedic doctor is the one whose experience matches your problem. At SIMS Hospital, Anantapur, orthopaedics care is provided by Dr. Marreddy Aswartha Reddy (Consultant Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon) and Dr. Vaddi Jayachandra (Consultant Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon). Book with a consultant by name, or describe your symptoms and the appointment desk will match you to the right specialist.
How long does recovery take after knee replacement?
Most patients stand with support the day after surgery and walk with a walker within two to three days. Independent walking usually returns over four to six weeks, and full benefit is felt by three months, provided physiotherapy is followed consistently.
Am I too old for joint replacement?
Age alone is rarely the deciding factor. Fitness for anaesthesia, heart and kidney function, diabetes control and bone quality matter more. A pre-operative assessment answers this properly.
Can back pain be treated without surgery?
Yes — most back pain is mechanical and improves with activity modification, targeted physiotherapy, core strengthening and short-term medication. Fewer than one in ten patients with back pain need an operation.