Dr. Shwetabh Rai is a consultant orthopedic, joint replacement and spine surgeon in Varanasi who performs 10 to 12 surgeries every month at Shubhyash Hospital & Speciality Clinic, Bhojuveer, specialising in total, partial and bilateral knee replacement, hip replacement, fracture care and arthritis management. His approach is built on a clear diagnosis, an honest explanation of the options, and treatment that matches each patient's age, lifestyle and goals.
He holds an MS and a DNB in Orthopaedics, an MCh, and a Diploma from SICOT (Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie), the international orthopaedic and trauma society based in Belgium. Over more than twelve years of practice he has combined Indian and international training in complex joint replacement with modern trauma management, and he leads orthopaedics and trauma care at Shubhyash Hospital, where he performs 10 to 12 surgeries every month.
Patients and families value three things about his approach. He tries non-surgical treatment first and says so when surgery is not needed. He explains the X-rays, the options, the risks and the costs in plain Hindi or English. And he gives every surgical patient a written plan with expected timelines, so recovery is measured rather than guessed.
Clear diagnosis, honest options, and a recovery plan you can measure.
Dr. Shwetabh RaiMS (Ortho) | DNB (Ortho) | MCh | Diploma SICOT (Belgium) | 12+ years of orthopaedic experience
These before-and-after photographs show patients of Dr. Shwetabh Rai at Shubhyash Hospital who had total or bilateral knee replacement for severe knee arthritis, with bow-leg deformity corrected, pain relieved and walking restored. Photographs are shared with each patient's written consent, and results vary from patient to patient.
Severe bow-leg deformity from knee arthritis corrected; walking without a stick after surgery.
Both knees replaced in one sitting for severe arthritis; walking in the ward during the first week.
Knee pain relieved and alignment corrected; standing upright and bearing full weight after surgery.
Knee pain relieved and alignment corrected; standing and walking unaided after surgery.
Individual results depend on the condition of the knee, overall health and how regularly physiotherapy is done. Bring your X-rays to a consultation to discuss what is realistic for your knee.
Knee replacement surgery (the medical term is knee arthroplasty) replaces the worn-out surfaces of the knee joint with smooth, precisely fitted metal and medical-grade plastic components. It is a resurfacing operation: only the damaged cartilage and a thin layer of bone are removed from the end of the thigh bone (femur) and the top of the shin bone (tibia). Your muscles and most of your ligaments stay in place and keep working the new joint.
The knee has three compartments: inner (medial), outer (lateral) and the one behind the kneecap (patellofemoral). A total knee replacement resurfaces all three. A partial knee replacement resurfaces only the damaged compartment. Which one suits you depends on where the arthritis is, how well your ligaments work, and the alignment of your leg, all of which Dr. Rai checks on examination and X-ray.
Knee replacement surgery is needed when advanced knee arthritis causes pain that limits walking, stairs and sleep despite three to six months of medicines, physiotherapy, weight control and injections, and X-rays show bone touching bone. Age alone is not the deciding factor; the state of the knee and your overall health decide, and three or more of the eight signs below mean it is time for a knee replacement assessment in Varanasi.
Knee arthritis pain that limits walking to short distances and turns stairs into a daily struggle is the most common reason patients in Varanasi are assessed for knee replacement surgery. When the cartilage has worn away, every step grinds bone on bone, so walking to the market, climbing to a first-floor flat or managing temple steps becomes painful and slow.
Knee pain that wakes you at night or does not settle even with rest is a sign of advanced knee arthritis rather than simple overuse. Rest pain means the joint is inflamed and worn through, and it rarely improves with medicines alone, which is why night pain is one of the clearest indicators that a knee replacement assessment is due.
Knee stiffness, swelling or a grinding and clicking feeling that has lasted for months rather than days points to osteoarthritis of the knee joint. A stiff knee that will not fully straighten or bend, with swelling after activity, shows that the joint surfaces are damaged, and an orthopedic examination with an X-ray will confirm how far the arthritis has progressed.
Increasing bow-leg (varus) or knock-knee (valgus) deformity that you or your family can see is a sign that knee arthritis has worn one side of the joint more than the other. Deformity gets worse over time, loads the remaining cartilage faster and makes bracing less effective, and it is corrected during total knee replacement so the leg is straight again.
Difficulty getting up from a chair, squatting or sitting cross-legged on the floor is an early loss of knee function that affects daily life, prayer and family meals. When the knee cannot bend or take load without pain, the thigh muscles weaken further, and this cycle of pain and weakness is one of the problems knee replacement surgery is designed to break.
When medicines, physiotherapy, weight loss and joint injections have been tried properly for three to six months and knee pain still controls your day, and the X-ray shows bone touching bone with the joint space gone, non-surgical knee arthritis treatment has reached its limit. At this stage knee replacement surgery in Varanasi offers the most reliable relief.
Knee replacement is also advised for rheumatoid arthritis that has destroyed the joint surfaces despite medical treatment, and for arthritis that develops years after a knee fracture or ligament injury. In these knees the damage is often more widespread, so Dr. Rai plans the implant and the alignment carefully on examination and X-ray.
Age alone does not decide whether you need knee replacement surgery; the condition of the knee and your overall health matter more. Fit patients in their seventies and eighties regularly benefit, and younger patients with badly damaged knees are not refused on age alone, provided heart, lung, kidney and sugar fitness are checked before surgery.
Most people with knee arthritis do not need knee replacement surgery, because early and middle-stage osteoarthritis usually improves with weight control, quadriceps strengthening, medicines reviewed for safety and, in selected knees, joint injections, and Dr. Rai says so when that is the case.
Mild wear on X-ray, or pain from a meniscus or ligament problem, needs different treatment. See knee pain treatment in Varanasi and arthritis & joint pain management.
Discuss your X-rays with Dr. RaiDr. Shwetabh Rai offers five types of knee replacement surgery in Varanasi, total, partial, bilateral, minimally invasive and revision, and the type is chosen on examination and X-ray findings rather than by default. Select a type below to see what it involves, who it suits and how recovery differs.
The most common operation. All three compartments of the knee are resurfaced, the leg is realigned, and bow-leg or knock-knee deformity is corrected at the same time. It suits advanced osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and is the procedure Dr. Rai performs most often.
Only the worn compartment, usually the inner side, is replaced; healthy cartilage and all ligaments are kept. The incision is smaller and recovery is typically quicker, but it suits only a minority of knees. Registry data show partial knees are revised somewhat more often than total knees over 25 years. Dr. Rai will tell you honestly whether your knee qualifies.
When both knees are badly worn, both can be replaced in one sitting or a few weeks to months apart. One anaesthetic and one recovery, but the first two weeks are more demanding, so it is advised only after heart, lung, kidney and blood-sugar checks.
Where the knee suits it, a shorter incision and less disturbance of the thigh muscle, which can mean less early pain and a quicker first few weeks. The implant and long-term result are the same as a standard approach. Not right for severe deformity or stiffness; decided on examination and X-ray, never by default.
A second operation to replace an implant that has loosened, worn, become infected or never felt right. More complex than a first replacement and needs careful planning with X-rays, blood tests and sometimes a CT scan. Bring your operation records and implant details for assessment.
Bilateral (double) knee replacement in one sitting suits fitter patients with severe arthritis in both knees and strong family support, because it means one anaesthetic, one admission and one recovery, while staged surgery a few weeks to months apart suits older patients or those with heart, lung or kidney conditions. Dr. Rai recommends the simultaneous option only after checking heart, lung, kidney and blood-sugar health, since the first two weeks are more demanding.
Usually advised for: fitter patients with severe disease in both knees and strong home support.
Usually advised for: older patients, those with heart or lung conditions, or when one knee is clearly worse.
A knee implant has four parts, a cobalt-chrome cap on the thigh bone, a metal tray on the shin bone, a medical-grade polyethylene cushion between them and an optional plastic kneecap button, and registry data show about 82% of total knee implants are still in place 25 years after surgery. The brand and model are written in your discharge summary, which you should keep for life.
1. Thigh-bone capMetal (femoral component)
2. Shin-bone trayMetal (tibial component)
3. Plastic cushionMedical-grade polyethylene insert, the new cartilage
4. Kneecap buttonPlastic, only if the kneecap surface is wornThe most expensive knee implant is not automatically the best one. What matters is the right design for your bone and activity, put in accurately and aligned well.
Knee replacement surgery takes one to two hours per knee under spinal or general anaesthesia and follows six steps, anaesthesia, incision, preparing the bone, balancing, fitting the trial and final implants, and closure, after which most patients stand with a walker within a day. Click a step or use the arrows to walk through the operation.
You are made comfortable and pain-free
Usually spinal anaesthesia, which numbs you from the waist down while you stay comfortable and drowsy. General anaesthesia is used when spinal is unsuitable. A nerve block is often added for pain relief afterwards.
A cut over the front of the knee
Roughly 15–20 cm over the front of the knee; smaller in minimally invasive or partial procedures. The kneecap is moved aside to reach the joint.
Worn surfaces are removed
Worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone are removed from the femur and tibia using precise cutting guides matched to your X-rays. Only the damaged surface goes; the bone underneath stays.
The knee is made stable and straight
Ligaments are balanced so the knee is stable through its full range, and bow-leg or knock-knee alignment is corrected. This step decides how natural the knee feels afterwards.
The new joint is fitted
Trial components confirm fit and movement first. The final metal and plastic implants are then fixed, usually with bone cement, and the knee is checked through its full bend.
Wound closed, recovery begins
The wound is closed in layers and dressed. You spend a short time in the recovery room, then return to the ward. Most patients stand with a walker within a day.
Knee replacement surgery relieves arthritis pain, restores walking distance and straightens a bowed or knock-kneed leg for the large majority of patients, and registry data covering more than 290,000 knees show about 82% of total knee replacements still working 25 years later. Results are good but not identical for everyone, which is why these six benefits are described as what most patients report.
Relief from the constant, grinding pain of advanced arthritis, including the night pain that disturbs sleep.
Longer walking distance, easier stairs and getting up from a chair without holding on.
Bow-leg or knock-knee deformity is corrected during the operation, improving balance and gait.
Independence in daily tasks, travel, visiting family and temples, and light work return for most patients.
Registry data from more than 290,000 knees show about 82% of total knee replacements still in place at 25 years.
Less pain and more movement usually mean better sleep, mood and confidence to go out again.
Improvement continues for months after surgery. A small number of patients keep some discomfort or stiffness, and the new knee will not feel exactly like a young natural knee.
Knee replacement complications affect a small minority of patients and include infection, blood clots, stiffness, persistent pain, nerve or vessel injury and long-term implant wear, each of which is reduced by a specific precaution described below. Dr. Rai explains every one of these risks before you consent, and diabetes, smoking, obesity and weak muscles raise them.
Of the wound or, rarely, deep around the implant. Reduced by antibiotics, sterile technique and good sugar control.
In the leg (DVT) or lung. Reduced by early walking, compression and blood-thinning medicine.
Limited bending after surgery. Usually prevented by doing the physiotherapy programme daily.
Some discomfort or a knee that does not feel fully natural. Uncommon, and reviewed at follow-up.
Injury to nearby nerves or vessels, or a fracture around the implant. Uncommon.
Over many years the implant may loosen or wear and need revision surgery.
Diabetes, smoking, obesity and poor muscle strength increase risk; improving these before surgery improves your result. Anaesthesia risks are higher with uncontrolled heart, lung, kidney or sugar problems, which is why they are checked first.
Knee replacement recovery follows six phases, from two to four weeks of preparation through a one-to-four-day hospital stay to full recovery at about one year, with most patients walking with a walker within a day and without a stick around six weeks. Partial knee replacement is usually quicker, bilateral replacement a little slower in the first weeks, and age, diabetes control and muscle strength all affect the timeline.
Good preparation makes surgery safer and the first week easier. Once a date is fixed, Dr. Rai's team guides you through it.
The first days are about pain control, safe first steps and getting you home.
Short walks, daily bending exercises and keeping swelling down.
The knee starts to feel like yours; most people drop the stick in this window.
Work, stairs and travel return as strength and confidence grow.
Improvement continues for months; a few habits protect the implant for life.
Physiotherapy after knee replacement starts on the day of surgery at Shubhyash Hospital and continues for six to twelve weeks, in hospital or at home with a trained physiotherapist, working through five goals: a straight knee, a bend past 90 degrees, a strong thigh, a normal walk and safe stairs. It is physiotherapy, not the implant alone, that turns a well-placed knee into one that bends, straightens and bears weight with confidence.
Five goals your physiotherapist works towards
Follow the plan you are given. Exercises copied from social media or videos may be wrong for your stage of recovery.
After a total knee replacement most patients walk unaided around six weeks, return to desk work in four to six weeks, drive at six weeks or more, travel home after the two-week wound check and avoid deep squatting and floor sitting in the long term. Partial knee replacement is often a little quicker, and Dr. Rai confirms each of these timings for your knee at your reviews.
Shubhyash Hospital's emergency service runs 24x7.
Call +91 99567 61112Knee replacement surgery cost in Varanasi depends on six factors, one knee or both, implant choice, surgical approach, room category and stay, your health conditions and what the package includes, so Shubhyash Hospital gives a written estimate after consultation and X-rays rather than a fixed price, and accepts Ayushman Bharat, health insurance and cashless TPA. Any website quoting one fixed price without examining you is guessing.
Shubhyash Hospital makes knee replacement affordable for families across Purvanchal by accepting Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY), all major health insurers and cashless TPA, and by pricing transparently, with hip replacement starting from around ₹60,000 against roughly ₹1 lakh commonly quoted elsewhere in the region. Every estimate is written and itemised, so cost is not the reason to delay a knee that needs fixing.
The best knee replacement surgeon in Varanasi is one who combines postgraduate orthopaedic qualifications, a regular joint replacement practice, a conservative-first approach, clear explanations, full hospital support and personal follow-up, and Dr. Shwetabh Rai meets all six of these checks. Use them to compare any surgeon you are considering.
MS, DNB (Ortho), MCh and an international SICOT diploma (Belgium): postgraduate orthopaedic training plus joint replacement expertise.
12+ years of practice and 10–12 surgeries every month; total, partial and bilateral knee replacement are what Dr. Rai does regularly, not occasionally.
Non-surgical options come first. Many patients are treated without an operation, and Dr. Rai says so when surgery is not needed.
X-rays, implant, risks and costs explained in plain Hindi or English, with a written plan and a written estimate.
Shubhyash Hospital, Bhojuveer: equipped theatre, in-house imaging, physiotherapy, OPD till 10 PM and 24x7 trauma and emergency.
The operating surgeon sees you after discharge: reviews at two weeks, six weeks, three months and one year.
These verified Google reviews come from patients treated for knee and joint problems by Dr. Shwetabh Rai at Shubhyash Hospital, Varanasi, and are reproduced in the patients' own words.
घुटनों के दर्द से मिली राहत, अब हर कदम में नया भरोसा!
"घुटनों में दर्द की वजह से चलने-फिरने और सीढ़ियाँ चढ़ने में बहुत परेशानी होती थी। डॉ. श्वेताभ राय ने मेरी समस्या को ध्यान से समझाया और इलाज की पूरी जानकारी दी। ऑपरेशन के बाद फिजियोथेरेपी से धीरे-धीरे चलने में सुधार हुआ। इलाज और देखभाल का अनुभव अच्छा रहा।"
सालों से था घुटनों का दर्द, अब मिली राहत!
"दोनों घुटनों में लंबे समय से दर्द था। रोज़मर्रा के काम करने और चलने में दिक्कत होती थी। डॉ. श्वेताभ राय ने दोनों घुटनों के ऑपरेशन और रिकवरी की प्रक्रिया अच्छे से समझाई। इलाज के बाद नियमित एक्सरसाइज़ और फिजियोथेरेपी से चलने में काफी सुधार महसूस हुआ।"
दर्द से थी हर चाल मुश्किल, अब चलना हुआ आसान!
"घुटने के दर्द से काफी समय से परेशान थी। उठने-बैठने और घर के काम करने में मुश्किल होती थी। डॉ. श्वेताभ राय ने जांच के बाद घुटना बदलने की सलाह दी और हमारी सभी शंकाएँ दूर कीं। ऑपरेशन के बाद नियमित फिजियोथेरेपी से मेरी चलने-फिरने की क्षमता में सुधार हुआ।"
Shubhyash Hospital & Speciality Clinic at Kautilya Kon Road, near Vishal Mega Mart, Bhojuveer, Varanasi 221002 is the knee replacement hospital where Dr. Shwetabh Rai consults and operates, with an OPD open until 10:00 PM and a 24x7 trauma and emergency service, so consultation, X-rays, surgery, physiotherapy and follow-up all happen under one roof. Patients come from every part of Varanasi and from Chandauli, Ghazipur, Jaunpur, Azamgarh, Mau, Ballia, Mirzapur, Bhadohi, Sonbhadra and western Bihar; for out-of-town families the team tries to schedule consultation, X-ray and MRI review in a single visit. Areas we serve →
Knee replacement at Shubhyash Hospital follows five stops from your first consultation to the one-year review, and many patients leave the first visit with a non-surgical plan rather than a surgery date.
History, examination of both knees and X-ray review. Bring previous reports, prescriptions and a list of medicines.
If surgery is advised: type of replacement, implant, expected stay and recovery timeline, all in writing.
Blood tests, ECG, X-rays; physician or anaesthetist review; simple strengthening exercises at home.
Operation of one to two hours per knee. Physiotherapy from day one; first steps with a walker within a day.
Wound check at about two weeks, then reviews at six weeks, three months and one year with Dr. Rai.
These answers cover the questions patients and families in Varanasi ask most about knee replacement: cost and Ayushman Bharat cover, hospital stay, when walking and driving return, both knees at once, implant lifespan and how to book. For anything specific to your knee, bring your X-rays to a consultation.
The best knee replacement doctor for you is one with postgraduate orthopaedic training, a regular joint replacement practice, a conservative-first approach and a hospital with 24x7 support.
Dr. Shwetabh Rai holds MS, DNB (Ortho) and MCh qualifications plus a Diploma from SICOT (Belgium), has 12+ years of experience and performs 10–12 surgeries a month at Shubhyash Hospital, Bhojuveer. Compare any surgeon on those criteria, not on online lists.
There is no fixed price; you receive a written estimate after consultation and X-rays. The figure depends on one or both knees, implant type, approach, room category, length of stay and your health conditions, so any single number quoted without examining you is a guess.
Shubhyash Hospital keeps joint replacement affordable and accepts every common payment route.
Yes. Shubhyash Hospital accepts Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY) for eligible patients, as well as all major health insurers and third-party administrators for cashless treatment.
Eligibility is confirmed before your surgery date is fixed, so there are no surprises on the day.
The operation itself usually takes one to two hours per knee.
Most patients go home between one and four days after surgery. Discharge happens once three things are true:
Patients with other medical conditions or bilateral surgery may stay a little longer.
You walk with a walker from the first day and most patients walk without support around six weeks.
A limp lasting beyond three months should be reviewed.
Yes, in suitable patients both knees can be replaced in one sitting. Bilateral knee replacement means one anaesthetic, one admission and one recovery, but the first two weeks are more demanding.
Dr. Rai decides after checking heart, lung, kidney and sugar fitness. See both knees: one sitting vs staged.
Age alone does not rule out knee replacement; fit patients in their seventies and eighties regularly benefit.
What matters more than age is overall health, which is checked before surgery:
For older patients with both knees worn, one knee at a time is often the safer plan.
Neither is better in general; the choice is made on examination and X-ray.
See the types of knee replacement above for a fuller comparison.
Yes, where the knee suits it. Dr. Rai uses a minimally invasive approach in selected patients.
Accurate alignment and a well-balanced knee matter more than the size of the cut.
About 82% of total knee replacements are still in place 25 years after surgery, and about 70% of partial replacements, according to registry data covering more than 290,000 knees.
Things that help the implant last:
Deep squatting and floor sitting are discouraged for at least six weeks and limited long term, because they load the implant heavily.
Usually six weeks or more after a total knee replacement, and sometimes earlier after a partial one. Three conditions must be met:
Dr. Rai confirms this at the six-week review.
Yes. Physiotherapy starts on the day of surgery at Shubhyash Hospital and continues for six to twelve weeks, in hospital or at home with a trained physiotherapist.
Follow the plan you are given rather than exercises from social media, which may be wrong for your stage.
Call or WhatsApp +91 99567 61112, or call the hospital desk on +91 93696 80496.
This page was written and medically reviewed by Dr. Shwetabh Rai, MS, DNB (Ortho), MCh, Diploma SICOT, on 2 November 2026. It is general information and not a substitute for consultation; treatment recommendations depend on individual assessment. Sources: NHS – Knee replacement (overview, procedure, recovery) · Evans JT et al., How long does a knee replacement last?, The Lancet 2019 · AAOS OrthoInfo – Total Knee Replacement.
A knee replacement consultation with Dr. Shwetabh Rai at Shubhyash Hospital, Bhojuveer, Varanasi gives you an honest opinion on whether surgery is right for your knee, what the non-surgical alternatives are, and a written plan and estimate if surgery is advised. Bring your X-rays and previous reports to the visit.