Orthopaedic
Most joint replacements are elective — which is exactly why timing matters
An X-ray showing arthritis does not by itself mean it is time to replace the joint. A reviewer who does arthroplasty weekly tells you whether you are at the point where surgery pays off, and what a well-run non-surgical attempt should have included first.
Operations we review in this specialty
- Total or partial knee replacement
- Total hip replacement and resurfacing
- Knee arthroscopy and meniscal surgery
- Rotator cuff and shoulder reconstruction
- Fracture fixation and revision surgery
Meet your reviewers
Specialists reviewing orthopaedic cases
You can request a preferred reviewer when you submit — your coordinator confirms availability before the service-level clock starts.
Watch first
What patients ask us most — answered by the panel
Short vertical answers from specialists who perform these operations. Read the written answer, or press play.
Panel answer
Am I too young for a knee replacement?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. S. Iyer
Arthroplasty surgeon · 16 yrs · 3,100+ jointsAge matters less than function and wear. Modern implants commonly last 20 years or more, but a replacement at 50 makes a revision later more likely. The real question is whether pain and loss of function already dominate your life despite proper non-surgical treatment.
Panel answer
Should I try physiotherapy before agreeing to surgery?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. S. Iyer
Arthroplasty surgeon · 16 yrs · 3,100+ jointsAlmost always yes, and it should be a real programme: 8 to 12 weeks of progressive strengthening supervised by a physiotherapist, not a handout. If pain and stiffness persist after that, surgery is a much clearer decision — and your recovery is faster because you enter it stronger.
Panel answer
My MRI says a torn meniscus. Doesn't that need surgery?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. S. Iyer
Arthroplasty surgeon · 16 yrs · 3,100+ jointsNot usually. Degenerative meniscal tears are extremely common in adults with no symptoms at all, and trimming them does not reliably help arthritic knees. Surgery is clearly useful when the knee locks, gives way, or the tear is a true acute injury in a younger athlete.
Panel answer
Does the brand of implant or the robot matter?
Video answer filming soon
Dr. S. Iyer
Arthroplasty surgeon · 16 yrs · 3,100+ jointsAlignment, fit and the surgeon's experience matter more than the marketing. Robotic assistance can improve precision, but it has not been shown to change how your knee feels years later. Ask about the surgeon's own revision rate instead.
The decisions a verdict actually settles
Partial vs total knee
If only one compartment is worn, a partial replacement can feel more natural and recover faster — but it needs the right anatomy and a surgeon who does them regularly.
Has non-surgical care really been tried
Structured strengthening for three months, weight optimisation and proper pain control change the picture for many knees. 'Physio didn't help' often means two sessions, not a programme.
Arthroscopy for arthritis
For degenerative knees with no mechanical locking, keyhole surgery has repeatedly failed to beat exercise in trials. This is one of the most common findings in our orthopaedic verdicts.
Is it safe to ask?
Yes — and here is why
Elective means you have time
Joint surgery is rarely urgent. Taking 48 hours for an independent verdict costs you nothing clinically and often saves an operation you did not need yet.
Prehabilitation is real
Patients who enter joint surgery with stronger quadriceps and better weight control recover measurably faster. If you do proceed, a verdict tells you how to prepare.
Your fee is held, not spent
Payment sits in escrow until a quality-checked verdict reaches you, and a service credit applies automatically if we miss the clock.
Do not wait for a review
Seek emergency care now if you have
- A joint that is hot, red and swollen with fever — possible infection
- Inability to bear weight after an injury
- New numbness, weakness or a foot that drops
- Night pain that is unrelated to movement and progressive
A second opinion is for planned decisions. It is never a substitute for urgent treatment.
Before you submit
Records your reviewer will want
Complete records are the difference between a 48-hour verdict and a week of chasing. Bring what you can — our coordinator tells you what is missing before the clock starts.
- Weight-bearing X-rays of the joint, both sides
- MRI images and radiology report if performed
- Notes from your orthopaedic consultation
- Physiotherapy records and what was tried, for how long
- List of medications and injections already used