Dr Tarandeep Singh Gill — MS Ortho, MCh Ortho
Director – Joint Replacement & Robotic Surgery · RoboLens FT3D Pioneer · Max Super Speciality Hospital, Mohali
Patients researching robotic knee replacement in Chandigarh run into the same problem repeatedly: marketing language that sounds specific but isn’t, lists of “benefits” that apply to every procedure on every hospital’s website, and very little information about what’s actually different between the robotic techniques available and what those differences mean for their outcome.
Here is a direct account of what robotic knee replacement with RoboLens FT3D at Max Hospital Mohali actually involves.
The Standard for Robotic Knee Surgery in Chandigarh
Robotic-assisted knee replacement has become the standard of care for patients who want the best long-term outcomes in the tricity. The reason is well-documented: implant alignment accuracy is consistently higher with robotic assistance than with conventional technique. And alignment accuracy is the primary determinant of how long an implant lasts and how natural the knee feels in the years following surgery.
The tricity’s geography means that patients from Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Zirakpur and surrounding areas no longer need to travel to Delhi or Mumbai for access to high-quality robotic knee surgery. Max Super Speciality Hospital, Phase 6, Mohali is the regional centre for this procedure.
RoboLens FT3D — What Sets It Apart
Most robotic knee systems in India require a CT scan before surgery. The scan builds a 3D model that the robotic planning software uses to pre-set the surgical plan — where to cut, at what angle, how deep. On the day of surgery, the robot executes that plan.
The limitation is the timeline: the plan is built from a scan taken days or weeks earlier. What the surgeon finds when they open the knee may differ — different swelling, different tissue tension, or a deformity angle that differs from what the unloaded scan predicted. The robot executes the pre-built plan faithfully, but the plan may have been based on imperfect data.
RoboLens FT3D takes a different approach. Using fluoroscopic imaging acquired during surgery itself — live, at the time the procedure is happening — the system builds its 3D model in real time. The surgical plan is created from current data, not a prediction. If the anatomy looks different from what was expected, the plan adapts. The implant is positioned based on what the knee actually is, not what it was estimated to be.
This approach eliminates the pre-operative CT scan entirely. Less radiation, simpler workup, and more current planning data. For deformed knees — where the gap between pre-operative prediction and intraoperative reality is largest — the real-time approach has the most significant advantage.
The Surgical Experience at Max Hospital Mohali
Surgery is performed under spinal anaesthesia — no general anaesthesia, no epidural. The procedure takes 60–90 minutes for a single knee. There is no ICU admission for standard cases. Recovery begins in the standard ward, where family can be present from the outset.
Walking begins the same day. Day 2 is typically when stair climbing happens — one of the functional milestones that determines discharge readiness. Day 3 is the usual discharge point for uncomplicated robotic knee replacement.
Post-operatively: a 2-week wound review, a 6-week functional assessment, and a 3-month final review are the standard follow-up points. Most patients have returned to normal daily activities by the 3-month mark. Continued functional improvement — strength, walking endurance, stair confidence — progresses through 6–12 months.
Who Is the Right Candidate?
Total knee replacement is indicated for Grade 3 or Grade 4 osteoarthritis — significant cartilage loss with symptoms that conservative treatment can no longer adequately control. Pain at rest, pain at night, visible deformity, and inability to manage daily activities are the clinical markers.
Age matters less than the imaging. A 55-year-old with Grade 4 disease who has been managing on maximum NSAIDs for two years is a clearer candidate than a 72-year-old whose Grade 3 disease is still responding to physiotherapy and injections. The decision comes from the X-ray and the clinical picture — not from a number.
Patients with isolated compartmental damage may be candidates for FT3D resurfacing rather than total replacement — a more conservative procedure with faster recovery. Dr Gill assesses both options at consultation and recommends the appropriate one based on imaging.
Cost and Insurance
Robotic total knee replacement at Max Hospital Mohali costs approximately ₹2.5–4 lakh per knee, depending on implant brand and anaesthesia requirements. Bilateral replacement (both knees) has a different cost structure — the billing team can provide a combined estimate.
Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY, CGHS, ECHS, and most major private insurers are accepted. The hospital handles cashless pre-authorisation. Patients should bring their insurance card and policy documents to the pre-surgical admission for verification.
How to Start
The first step is a consultation — X-ray review, clinical examination, and a direct conversation about what the imaging shows and what the right treatment is. New appointments are typically available within a week at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Phase 6 (Sector 56), Mohali.
Call +91-82880 15106 or +91-62395 89197. Book online at tsgillortho.com/appointment. Bring any prior imaging — even older X-rays are useful for comparison.
