Best Phuket Hospital for Orthopaedic surgery (knee)

[Tapster]

Does anyone have experience of orthopaedic surgery in Phuket?

I'm researching total knee replacement.

 

Bangkok Hospital Phuket or Phuket International Hospital?

(I know they are both part of the same group, but specialities might differ)

 

Thanks for any advice

 

[Swimman]

Research the proposed surgeon's qualification/experience not the hospital  

 

IE   https://phukethospital.com/doctor/rangson-chiawsirikajorn/

[Jimi007]

I would go to Bangkok personally to https://www.bumrungrad.com

[Psimbo]

11 hours ago, Jimi007 said:

I would go to Bangkok personally to https://www.bumrungrad.com

I would second that- the local places just heavily stack the bills and some work can be dubious.

 

I know someone who went into BHP and ended up with a massive infection that nearly killed him. They are money machines, 

 

An alternative to the preferred option of Bkk would be Songkla, Chiang Mai or any other place  where the big teaching hospitals are- some first class professors work at the local hospitals as a result.

[Patong2]

Have had both knees done left one, 12 months ago.

Amazed at how good and painfree the recovery has been.

This morning did 8.5km walk along Patong Beach and halfway up the hill at the south end of the beach by Amari Coral, this, 12 months after the op. 

 

Mine done in NZ and the 2 things to get right

1. the surgeon, there are hugely different success rates between them

2. now the technology has advanced and my replacements were laser aligned and that apparently gives much better chance of perfection.

 

If doing in Thailand ensure the hospital has the laser alignment method available and try to talk to someone who has had the op and find out the success or otherwise.

 

Do the stationary bike thing and other therapy it really helps with you recovery

 

Good luck with what you decide

 

 

[steelepulse]

I had some knee issues.  Had a couple MRI's done and then had a world class radiologist from Austria review the MRI and I was given a plan that I needed a partial knee replacement.  Local dr's at both hospitals said a scope would do the job.  Needless to say I didn't get anything done locally.  Was all set to get the operation done at Bumrumgrad and pain gradually went away, so I've skipped the surgery.

 

Your best bet  is to contact Dr Melcher in Patong. He only does full knee replacements, but he knows his stuff.    http://www.phuket-international-health-clinic.com/doctor-profiles/dr-gerhard-melcher.html

[Tapster]

Thank you for the suggestions.

 

Mmm....3 votes for Bumrungrad. I've already heard that it's an excellent hospital, but expensive. I will look into that in more detail.

 

It all depends on my Thai medical insurance not deciding that it's a pre-existing condition and refusing to pay up. They haven't specifically excluded my knees, and I have told them about my history of cartilage surgery.

 

We'll see.

 

So, do you think the standards in Phuket would be significantly lower than at Bumrungrad? Phuket is hardly a provincial backwater.

 

As has been said, it's obviously a good idea to choose the correct surgeon, but how can I know who's best? For instance, at Bumrungrad, there are 29 named surgeons who are listed as performing joint surgery. Is there a league table of surgeons in Thailand??

 

Re: Dr Melcher, good suggestion! I've seen him several times about various medical issues. I've written to him separately.

[Sheryl]

Best knee doc in Thailand is at Bumrungrad

 

https://www.bumrungrad.com/doctors/Panya-Wongpatimachai

 

 

[Jimi007]

I have had a hip replacement and I seriously considered Bumrungrad as they have robotic assisted surgery for hip replacement surgery. But I got a free one in California. Looks better than many I have seen from other countries and I did get the top surgeon at my hospital there. I tried to get into a hospital that had robotic surgery, but my insurance wouldn’t approve it. I am kind of doubting insurance here will pay for a pre-existing condition. Good luck and best wishes!


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[Old Croc]

Bangkok Phuket Hospital does robotic surgery.

They have an excellent orthopedic centre, it's not necessary to travel to Bangkok.

They seem to be in the process of rebuilding their website so couldn't give a link.

[Psimbo]

On 4/23/2018 at 10:54 AM, steelepulse said:

I had some knee issues.  Had a couple MRI's done and then had a world class radiologist from Austria review the MRI and I was given a plan that I needed a partial knee replacement.  Local dr's at both hospitals said a scope would do the job.  Needless to say I didn't get anything done locally.  Was all set to get the operation done at Bumrumgrad and pain gradually went away, so I've skipped the surgery.

 

Your best bet  is to contact Dr Melcher in Patong. He only does full knee replacements, but he knows his stuff.    http://www.phuket-international-health-clinic.com/doctor-profiles/dr-gerhard-melcher.html

Is he not the go-to guy at Vachira as well? If so have heard a lot of good about him and know someone who had a complex fracture set there. He would certainly be in demand at Vachira!

[steelepulse]

Yes, he has his clinic in Patong and also works at Vachira.  Only reason I didn't go with him is I only needed a partial replacement.  He told me he only does full replacements, so might be the best option for Tapster.

[Tapster]

OK, this is going very well!

 

 

Dr Melcher sounds like a very good option for me.

 

He is a very good clinician. I already know that, but I didn't know that he did knee replacements.

 

Also, my issue is sport-related and he is very knowledgeable about sport problems.

I am very keen to preserve lateral knee ligaments for stability, as I plan to resume rock climbing after the knee replacement.

Preserving the quadriceps attachment to the tibia would be a big help as well. We can discuss all that.

 

Add to that the fact that I can communicate with him perfectly, and it sounds like a plan!

 

I'd already decided to make an appointment with him today, as he emailed me back to tell me that he does knees.

 

Just for interest, my uncle was an orthopaedic surgeon. He said that knee replacements were not rocket science, just carpentry!

 

Many thanks to all for the help. If there's any interest, I'll post back with progress.