Medically Reviewed by Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal, MBBS, MS (Orthopaedics)
Orthopaedic & Joint Replacement Surgeon | 18+ years of clinical experience
Fellowship training: Mumbai, Germany, Australia
Founder & Owner of MAHI Multispeciality Hospitals, Kilpauk, Chennai
& Senior Joint Replacement Surgeon at MGM Healthcare
Last medically reviewed: August 2026
Joint pain does not just hurt your knee or hip. It quietly takes away the small freedoms of everyday life: walking to the kitchen without wincing, climbing a flight of stairs, sitting on the floor during a family function, or simply getting a full night’s sleep.
If pain like this has become part of your routine, it is worth speaking to a joint replacement specialist in Chennai rather than continuing to manage it alone.
Many people assume joint pain is just a normal part of growing older, and mild stiffness can be. But constant pain, swelling, or a joint that feels unstable when you walk usually points to something more specific, such as cartilage damage or advanced arthritis. Getting it checked early often means more treatment options and a simpler recovery later.
Meet Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal, Joint Replacement Specialist in Chennai
Choosing a surgeon is the single most important decision in this journey, so it helps to know exactly who you would be trusting with it.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal is an orthopaedic and joint replacement surgeon based in Chennai with more than 18+ years of clinical experience. He completed his MBBS at Mysore University and went on to earn his MS in Orthopaedics from Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai, one of the city’s established academic medical institutions.
He then pursued further fellowship training in joint replacement and arthroplasty at centres in India, Germany and Australia, which shaped his approach to robotic assisted and computer guided surgery.
His clinical background includes roles as Senior Joint Replacement and Orthopaedic Surgeon at MGM Healthcare and Clinical Lead for Robotic Joint Replacement at Medway Hospitals, where he led the robotic knee replacement program.
He is the Founder and Owner of MAHI Multispecialty Hospital, Kilpauk, where he leads the Department of Orthopaedics, and also sees patients at the MAHI Hospitals branch in Vepery as well as at MGM Healthcare in Aminjikarai.
If you are specifically searching for a robotic knee surgeon in Chennai, this matters because robotic assisted surgery requires a different, additional skill set beyond conventional joint replacement. Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal’s dual experience in both conventional and robotic techniques means the choice of approach is based on what suits your joint, not on what a clinic happens to offer.
What Joint Replacement Surgery Actually Involves
Joint replacement surgery removes the damaged surfaces of a joint and replaces them with artificial implants made from metal alloys, ceramic or medical grade polyethylene. These implants are engineered to move the way a natural joint does while removing the source of pain, which is usually bone rubbing directly against bone once the cushioning cartilage has worn away.
It is most often performed on the knee and hip, though shoulder, elbow and ankle replacements are also possible when the joint is severely damaged.
How Healthy Joints Break Down
A healthy joint is lined with smooth cartilage that lets bones glide against each other without friction. Conditions such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, injury or avascular necrosis gradually wear this cartilage away.
Once it thins out, the exposed bone surfaces begin grinding together, which is what causes the pain, swelling, stiffness and grinding sensation many patients describe before their diagnosis.
Who Actually Needs This Surgery
Not every case of joint pain needs surgery, and a responsible specialist will say so. Surgery is generally considered when a patient has:
- Severe knee or hip pain that limits daily movement
- Difficulty walking, standing or climbing stairs
- Stiffness that has not improved with medication or physiotherapy
- Imaging that confirms advanced cartilage loss or joint deformity
- A quality of life that has been significantly affected over time
The decision always follows a full clinical evaluation, including a physical exam and imaging, never a single consultation alone.
Knee Replacement
Knee pain from advanced arthritis or long term cartilage damage tends to progress slowly, which is why many patients wait far longer than they should before seeking help. Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal offers both total knee replacement, where all damaged surfaces of the joint are resurfaced, and partial
knee replacement, where only the affected compartment of the knee is treated. Partial replacement preserves more of the patient’s natural bone and generally allows a quicker return to normal movement, but it is only suitable when damage is limited to one part of the joint.
Correct alignment is one of the biggest factors in how a replaced knee feels years later, which is part of why more patients are now asking about robotic assisted knee replacement rather than the conventional freehand technique.
Hip Replacement
Hip damage from osteoarthritis, avascular necrosis, rheumatoid arthritis or old fractures usually shows up first as groin pain, a limp or difficulty putting on shoes and socks. When physiotherapy and medication stop helping, hip replacement becomes a realistic option.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal performs total hip replacement, where both the femoral head and the hip socket are replaced, and partial hip replacement for patients whose damage is limited to one side of the joint. The goal in either case is the same: remove the bone on bone contact causing the pain and restore a stable, natural feeling range of motion.
Robotic Knee Surgeon in Chennai: What Robotic Assisted Surgery Actually Changes
This is one of the most common questions patients ask once they start researching treatment options, so it deserves a clear, honest answer rather than a marketing one.
In conventional joint replacement, the surgeon relies on manual instruments, experience and visual judgement to position the implant. In robotic assisted surgery, the process starts before the operation even begins, with a CT scan that builds a 3D model of the patient’s own knee.
This model lets the surgeon plan implant size, position and alignment in advance, down to the millimetre.
During surgery, the robotic arm does not operate independently. It assists the surgeon by keeping bone cuts within the planned boundaries and flagging any deviation in real time. The surgeon remains fully in control throughout.
As a robotic knee surgeon in Chennai, Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal uses this technology for patients where precise alignment and soft tissue balancing genuinely change the outcome, particularly in complex deformities or revision cases. The practical benefits reported in clinical literature and observed in practice include:
- More consistent implant alignment across patients
- Better soft tissue balancing during surgery
- Reduced blood loss in many cases due to a more controlled technique
- A generally smoother early recovery period
Robotic assistance is a tool, not a guarantee of a perfect outcome on its own. Surgical skill, patient anatomy and post surgery rehabilitation still play a major role, and any surgeon who tells you otherwise is oversimplifying it.
Recovery After Joint Replacement Surgery
Recovery begins almost immediately. Most patients stand and take a few assisted steps within 24 hours of surgery, which helps prevent stiffness and supports circulation. A structured physiotherapy plan usually starts the next day and continues for several weeks.
Most patients return to light daily activities within 4 to 6 weeks. Full recovery, including regaining full strength and confidence in the joint, typically takes 3 to 6 months depending on the type of surgery, the patient’s overall health and how consistently physiotherapy is followed.
Clinical studies consistently show that more than 90 percent of patients experience significant pain relief and improved mobility after knee or hip replacement, and modern implants are built to last 15 to 20 years or longer with proper care.
Conditions a Joint Replacement Specialist Treats
- Osteoarthritis: the most common reason patients need knee or hip replacement, caused by gradual cartilage wear over the years.
- Rheumatoid arthritis: an autoimmune condition where the body’s own immune system damages joint tissue.
- Avascular necrosis: loss of blood supply to bone tissue, most often affecting the hip.
- Post traumatic arthritis: joint damage that develops after a fracture, ligament tear or old injury.
- Advanced joint degeneration: severe wear that limits walking, balance and independence.
Why Patients Choose Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal
- Verified experience: 18 plus years in orthopaedics, with fellowship training in India, Germany and Australia and leadership roles at MGM Healthcare and Medway Hospitals.
- Ownership and leadership: Founder and Owner of MAHI Multispecialty Hospital, Kilpauk, where he personally leads the Department of Orthopaedics, with an additional presence at the Mahi Hospitals branch in Vepery.
- Dual expertise: trained in both conventional and robotic assisted joint replacement, so the technique used fits the patient rather than the other way around.
- Transparent evaluation: surgery is recommended only after conservative options such as physiotherapy and medication have genuinely been tried and have not worked.
- Consistent follow up: structured post surgery review appointments rather than a one time procedure and discharge.
- Independently verified reviews: 4.5 to 4.8 star ratings across Google, Justdial and Practo from real patients, not curated testimonials.
What Patients Say
Kandakumar Ramachandran
We visited doctor for a mild pain near hip for over two months constantly.. We consulted many doctors earlier but pain didn’t reduce.. Then we visited Dr Vijay… He diagnosed that it was a small subchondral stress fracture in femoral head of hip and advised us for non surgical conventional treatment…
Doctor was very considerate and allowed us to choose conventional treatment over surgery… We followed his advise religiously and found tremendous improvement ..
After 12 weeks the fracture line was completely healed and i was able to walk without any support and pain… Thanks to doctor for patiently guiding us through all stages of treatment.. We are very grateful to the doctor for his expertise and guidance which helped us to heal the fracture without Surgery.
One of the finest doctor. My dad undergone total knee replacement surgery under Dr Vijay Kumar Sohanlal. Excellent way to explain patient the whole procedure. My dad is scared of even getting an simple IM injection but just because of the trust shown by Dr Vijay sir he agreed to his words and got convinced for surgery.
The surgery went on well and the motivation given by Dr vijay to get up on his legs immediately the next day after surgery was unbelievable.
Dr vijay personally made sure that my dad gets up and start to walk.
Overall I would highly recommend Dr Vijay sir for any type of Orthopaedic procedures . My whole family is thankful to Vijay sir for taking care of my dad so well at the hospital.
Conclusion
Living with ongoing knee or hip pain affects far more than movement. It touches sleep, mood, independence and time with family. Whether you need a conventional joint replacement or want to explore options with a robotic knee surgeon in Chennai, the right first step is a proper evaluation rather than more guessing.
Dr. Vijay Kumar Sohanlal brings 18+ years of orthopaedic experience, dual training in conventional and robotic techniques, and a track record built on consistent patient outcomes, not just marketing claims.
Read More: Orthopedic Surgeon in Chennai.
