total knee replacement

[culicine]

Does anyone know of hospitals and costs for a total knee replacement. I found of older threads here quote 350-500K. I'm assuming that is for both knees, correct? Has anyone here the operation, or know someone who has had it recently? It's not for me, but my mother. And what would be the cost for the same operation in a public hospital. My mum has no insurance for this. She still needs to wait 2 years or more in Australia for the procedure, so I'm exploring some more options. Thanks:)

[dsfbrit]

This may help. It is from the Bumrungrad hospital website:-

I suspect that using these costs as a guide, you could safely say that many other hospitals in Thailand would be cheaper as the Bumrungrad is not a 'cheap' hospital.

I had to have hip resurfacing a couple of years ago (similar to hip replacement) and went to India which is probably 50 percent cheaper than Thailand, but has very good surgeons for hip and knee. operations.

Good luck

http://www.bumrungrad.com/en/realcost-thailand-surgery/final-bill-estimate-surgery-cost-pricing?Pid=7251&RealCostPid=499

http://www.bumrungrad.com/en/realcost-thailand-surgery/final-bill-estimate-surgery-cost-pricing?Pid=7305&RealCostPid=500

[culicine]

This may help. It is from the Bumrungrad hospital website:-

I suspect that using these costs as a guide, you could safely say that many other hospitals in Thailand would be cheaper as the Bumrungrad is not a 'cheap' hospital.

I had to have hip resurfacing a couple of years ago (similar to hip replacement) and went to India which is probably 50 percent cheaper than Thailand, but has very good surgeons for hip and knee. operations.

Good luck

http://www.bumrungrad.com/en/realcost-thailand-surgery/final-bill-estimate-surgery-cost-pricing?Pid=7251&RealCostPid=499

http://www.bumrungrad.com/en/realcost-thailand-surgery/final-bill-estimate-surgery-cost-pricing?Pid=7305&RealCostPid=500

Thanks I saw that last night; casts around 400-500K. But I'm not sure if that is for one or both knees. My mum is still quite mobile, so hope she can hang on in OZ and get it done there. They seem to make old folks wait until they practically cannot walk, though, before they will operate. She's already been on a waiting list well over 2 years, and now they quote another two years. I don't mind a government hospital here, as long as they have the right technology to do it.

[dsfbrit]

I went to see the Orthopedic surgeon at the Bumgrugrand regarding my hip. The price for operating on one hip that he quoted me in his office was the same as the lower end of the 'real price' on that web page that related to hip replacement.

I therefore think you will find the price of around 450K Baht for the knee replacement is also based on one knee.

Bear in mind that any quote you get from the hospitals, may not include additional hidden costs. In this case I would have had to pay extra for the pre-op screening tests, which were at least 25k baht I seem to recall for ECG, blood, heart echo cardiogram etc..

Good luck finding somewhere for your mum.

Edited August 29, 2013 by dsfbrit

[jrtmedic]

A four year wait for a knee replacement deemed necessary by an orthopaedic consultant seems excessive even for Australia !

Why not suggest Mum ask her GP to refer her back to the orthopaedic consultant for a re-evaluation of her condition ?

[Sheryl]

At a government or military hospital it will be about 100-150,000 baht, but there will be red tape and language barriers. Will need several visits just to see the specialist, all the forms will be in Thai and the registration process almost impossible without a Thai speaker to assist, etc. If you yourself live in Thailand and either speak Thai or have Thai friends/spouse who could accompany and assist, then this may be an option. If so, advise where in Thailand you live.

[culicine]

At a government or military hospital it will be about 100-150,000 baht, but there will be red tape and language barriers. Will need several visits just to see the specialist, all the forms will be in Thai and the registration process almost impossible without a Thai speaker to assist, etc. If you yourself live in Thailand and either speak Thai or have Thai friends/spouse who could accompany and assist, then this may be an option. If so, advise where in Thailand you live.

Hi thanks. My wife is a director of a nursing college, so I think using a government hospital won't be a real issue. Assistance for my mum wouldn't be a big issue. I live in Nonthaburi, by the way. My mum was referred back to a hospital again, after some some insistence. But the hospital still said it would be a couple of years. It's quite dangerous to have bad knees - she's fallen several times while out and about. Last time she badly cut her face after a fall.

I guess I could ask her to send me her medical records and have a doctor here look at it an make some kind of off the cuff assessment. I might be able to get an idea of the cost after that. Alternatively I could get her to come over and be checked, next time she's on holiday. She usually comes once a year.

Thanks for the replies here.

[tropo]

At a government or military hospital it will be about 100-150,000 baht, but there will be red tape and language barriers. Will need several visits just to see the specialist, all the forms will be in Thai and the registration process almost impossible without a Thai speaker to assist, etc. If you yourself live in Thailand and either speak Thai or have Thai friends/spouse who could accompany and assist, then this may be an option. If so, advise where in Thailand you live.

Hi thanks. My wife is a director of a nursing college, so I think using a government hospital won't be a real issue. Assistance for my mum wouldn't be a big issue. I live in Nonthaburi, by the way. My mum was referred back to a hospital again, after some some insistence. But the hospital still said it would be a couple of years. It's quite dangerous to have bad knees - she's fallen several times while out and about. Last time she badly cut her face after a fall.

I guess I could ask her to send me her medical records and have a doctor here look at it an make some kind of off the cuff assessment. I might be able to get an idea of the cost after that. Alternatively I could get her to come over and be checked, next time she's on holiday. She usually comes once a year.

Thanks for the replies here.

If I had the option of getting it done in Australia for free, even with a wait, I would do that. If they mess up the operation here you're on your own... and trust me, they can really mess up. My landlord still cannot walk after he broke his knee nearly 2 years ago falling off his bike. They messed up the operation twice and hopefully he'll be ok after his 3rd operation 3 months back - yet to be seen. He went through a terrible ordeal with the "best" surgeons here. It has been a 2 year ongoing nightmare and about 1 million baht so far.

[jrtmedic]

"If I had the option of getting it done in Australia for free, even with a wait, I would do that. If they mess up the operation here you're on your own... and trust me, they can really mess up. My landlord still cannot walk after he broke his knee nearly 2 years ago falling off his bike. They messed up the operation twice and hopefully he'll be ok after his 3rd operation 3 months back - yet to be seen. He went through a terrible ordeal with the "best" surgeons here. It has been a 2 year ongoing nightmare and about 1 million baht so far."

Sorry this scaremongering nonsense of the first degree !

No clinical detail just a load of unsubstantiated accusations!

What for example is a "broken knee" --it is not in my extensive vocabulary for certain.

What does "messed up" mean in precise clinical terms ?

• ]

Edited August 31, 2013 by Sheryl
civility