Knee replacement in Turkey: a knee that no longer hurts
Osteoarthritis, total or partial replacement, price, procedure, rehabilitation and risks: everything you need to know before having a knee replacement in Turkey.
What is a knee replacement in Turkey?
When osteoarthritis has worn away the cartilage of the knee, every step can become painful, at night as well as during the day. When medication, injections and physiotherapy are no longer enough, a knee replacement is the treatment that brings lasting relief.
A knee replacement in Turkey replaces the worn surfaces of the joint with metal and polyethylene parts. It is total, or partial when the wear affects only part of the knee. Surgery takes 1 to 2 hours, under spinal or general anesthesia, with 3 to 5 days in hospital. Plan on 7 to 14 days in Turkey in total. With TurquieMed, the knee replacement package starts at $12,000, with the surgery, 4 nights in hospital, transfers and an interpreter, and the exact price is confirmed in a free quote.
TurquieMed organizes your stay: forwarding your file to the orthopedic surgeon, opinion and detailed quote within 48 hours, airport pick-up, transfers, hotel, interpreter and 7-day-a-week assistance.
To choose well, ask for the brand and model of the prosthesis, and plan your rehabilitation: it matters as much as the surgery for a knee that bends well again.
- Surgery time
- 1 to 2 hours
- Hospital stay
- 3 to 5 days
- Stay in Turkey
- Usually 7 to 14 days
- Price
- Package from $12,000
How much does a knee replacement cost in Turkey?
With TurquieMed, a knee replacement in Turkey costs from $12,000 as a package: the surgery, 4 nights in hospital with meals, medication, laboratory tests, transfers and an interpreter. The final price depends on the type of prosthesis (total or partial), its brand, the technique (conventional or robot-assisted in some hospitals), the length of the hospital stay and the number of physiotherapy sessions on site. For a comparable level of care, it is often much lower than private prices in Western Europe or North America.
Your free quote, prepared after your X-rays have been reviewed, specifies the prosthesis, the surgery, the hospital stay, tests, medication, physiotherapy, transfers and interpreter. A hotel after discharge can be added on request. Your flight is usually at your own expense.
Knee replacement package
Knee replacement package- VIP airport transfer
- 3 meals a day at the clinic
- TurquieMed assistance 7 days a week
- Medical check-up
- Hotel / clinic transfer
- Medication in hospital
- 4 nights in hospital
- Interpreter at the clinic
- Doctor’s visit
- Laboratory tests
- Your surgery
Package price
from $12,000
Indicative, non-contractual price. The final price is set in a personalized quote, after your medical file has been reviewed. Hotel after discharge, flight and any additional care or tests not included, unless stated on your quote.
Why choose Turkey for a knee replacement?
In many countries, the wait for a knee replacement is counted in months, while pain limits walking and sleep. In Turkey, surgery can usually take place within a few weeks of the opinion.
1. Knee specialists
In major hospitals, knee replacements are entrusted to orthopedic surgeons who perform them regularly.
2. Accredited hospitals
Many Turkish hospitals are accredited by the JCI (Joint Commission International), the international benchmark for patient safety.
3. Prostheses from international brands
The quote states the brand and model of the prosthesis. Some hospitals also offer robot-assisted surgery.
4. Rehabilitation starts in hospital
You usually get up the day after surgery, with a physiotherapist, and leave with an exercise program.
5. A price known in advance
The knee replacement package starts at $12,000, often much less than private care in Western Europe or North America. The quote details each item.
6. A stay organized from A to Z
We organize your appointments, transfers between the airport, hotel and clinic, and an interpreter, with 7-day-a-week assistance. You leave with your surgical report, your prosthesis card, your prescriptions and your rehabilitation program.
| In Turkey with TurquieMed | Often elsewhere | |
|---|---|---|
| First opinion | Within 48 hours, free, based on your X-rays | Several weeks for an appointment |
| Time before surgery | Usually a few weeks | Often several months |
| Price | Package from $12,000, with a detailed quote | Often much higher in private care |
| Support | Hotel, transfers, interpreter, assistance 7 days a week | To be organized yourself |
Who is a knee replacement for?
A knee replacement is offered when wear of the knee, visible on X-rays, seriously affects daily life:
- pain when walking or at night, despite medication, injections and physiotherapy;
- a reduced walking distance, with stairs that have become difficult;
- a stiff or deformed knee (knock-knees or bow legs);
- osteoarthritis after an old fracture or rheumatoid arthritis.
There is no strict age limit: it is the discomfort and your health that decide. An ongoing infection, poorly controlled diabetes, severe heart disease, smoking or significant excess weight require special care, or postponing surgery: mention them in your request. See also our page on orthopedic surgery in Turkey.
What treatments should you try before a knee replacement?
Before considering a replacement, several treatments can relieve knee osteoarthritis, sometimes for years. Surgery is offered when they are no longer enough.
- Losing weight: every kilo less clearly reduces the load on the knee at each step;
- Moving regularly: walking, cycling and swimming maintain the muscles that protect the knee;
- Physiotherapy: strengthening the thigh reduces pain and improves walking;
- Pain medication, respecting doses and contraindications;
- Injections of corticosteroids or hyaluronic acid, which bring relief for a few weeks to a few months;
- A walking stick on the side opposite the painful knee, or a knee brace.
In a younger, active person with wear on one side only and bow legs, an osteotomy, which straightens the axis of the leg by cutting the bone, can sometimes delay a replacement by several years. The surgeon tells you, from your X-rays, which solution suits you best.
What types of knee replacement?
Total knee replacement
It replaces both sides of the knee and often the back of the kneecap. It is the most common type, when wear affects the whole knee.
Partial (unicompartmental) knee replacement
It replaces only the worn part, most often the inner side. Surgery is lighter and recovery faster, but it only suits certain types of osteoarthritis.
Robot-assisted surgery
In some hospitals, a robotic arm helps the surgeon position the prosthesis according to a plan based on a CT scan. The surgeon performs the operation: the robot helps them be more precise.
Anesthesia and pain
Surgery is most often done under spinal anesthesia, an injection in the lower back that numbs the legs, with medication to help you relax or sleep. General anesthesia is also possible. The anesthetist often adds a nerve block in the thigh, which relieves pain for the first hours, and scheduled pain medication over the following days. Well-controlled pain allows rehabilitation to start the next day.
How to prepare for a knee replacement?
Preparing well in the weeks before you travel reduces the risk of complications and makes recovery easier.
- Your medication: mention anticoagulants, antiplatelet drugs and anti-inflammatories. Never stop them without your doctor’s agreement;
- Your teeth: have them checked and treated before surgery, as a dental infection can later reach the prosthesis;
- Smoking: stop if possible 4 to 6 weeks before, for better healing;
- Your muscles: a few weeks of thigh-strengthening exercises, with a physiotherapist, make the first steps easier;
- Your home: remove rugs, clear walkways, plan a stable chair with armrests and help with shopping;
- Your physiotherapist: book an appointment for the week of your return.
In your suitcase: loose clothes, closed and stable shoes, your medication with the prescriptions, and your X-rays.
How does your knee replacement in Turkey work?
- You send us your request. Through the website form or on WhatsApp, with your recent X-rays and reports.
- The surgeon reviews your file. They tell you whether a replacement is recommended, and which one.
- You receive your care plan and quote. Within 48 hours: the proposed prosthesis, the length of stay and a detailed price, free and with no obligation.
- We organize your trip. Hospital appointments, hotel, airport transfer and interpreter.
- Surgery and rehabilitation on site. Check-up on arrival, surgery, 3 to 5 days in hospital with physiotherapy, then a few days at the hotel before the final check.
- Going home. You leave with your surgical report, your prosthesis card, your prescriptions and your rehabilitation program.
Before surgery: the check-up on site
- a consultation with the surgeon, who examines your knee, reviews your X-rays and explains the chosen prosthesis;
- recent standing X-rays of the knees, often an X-ray of the whole leg to measure its axis, and sometimes a CT scan for robot-assisted surgery;
- a blood test, an electrocardiogram and, if needed, other heart or lung tests;
- a consultation with the anesthetist, who chooses the anesthesia and plans pain management.
The day of surgery
Surgery usually takes 1 to 2 hours, in several steps:
- Anesthesia: spinal or general, often with a nerve block in the thigh, and an antibiotic injection to prevent infection;
- The incision: on the front of the knee, from a few centimeters to about fifteen depending on the technique;
- Preparing the bones: the surgeon removes the worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone at the end of the femur and tibia, and sometimes under the kneecap;
- Fitting the prosthesis: one part on the femur, one on the tibia and, between them, a polyethylene insert that acts as new cartilage;
- Adjustments: the surgeon checks the alignment of the leg, the balance of the ligaments and full bending of the knee;
- Closing: the wound is closed with stitches or staples, sometimes with a small drain, then you go to the recovery room.
The first days in hospital
- In the recovery room, the team monitors your blood pressure, pain and the sensation in your leg;
- You first get up usually the next day, with the physiotherapist and a walker;
- The knee starts bending from the first days, with the physiotherapist, sometimes helped by a machine that bends it gently;
- Treatments: scheduled pain medication, cold packs on the knee, anticoagulant against blood clots, and a check-up X-ray;
- Discharge usually takes place after 3 to 5 days, when you walk with crutches and the knee bends enough.
After leaving hospital
You walk with a walker and then crutches for 4 to 6 weeks. Rehabilitation continues at home with a physiotherapist, usually for 6 to 12 weeks. Driving often resumes after 6 weeks, and the knee keeps improving for several months. A treatment against blood clots is prescribed for a few weeks, with compression stockings. Flying is usually possible after the final check, about 7 to 10 days after surgery.
What is recovery like after a knee replacement?
Recovery happens in stages: you walk from the first days, give up the crutches around 6 weeks, and the knee keeps improving for 6 months to 1 year. The timings below are average guides.
| When | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Day 1 | First time up and first steps with a walker, with the physiotherapist |
| Days 2 to 4 | Walking in the corridor, first stairs, exercises to bend the knee |
| Discharge | Walking with crutches, knee bending to about 90 degrees |
| Weeks 2 to 3 | Stitches or staples removed, rehabilitation at home, swelling still common |
| Weeks 4 to 6 | Gradually giving up the crutches, driving possible around 6 weeks |
| Weeks 6 to 12 | Return to office work, longer walks, exercise bike |
| 3 to 6 months | Gentle sports: walking, cycling, swimming, golf |
| 6 months to 1 year | Final result: remaining swelling and discomfort usually disappear |
Rehabilitation exercises
Your physiotherapist adapts the program, but these exercises, to be done several times a day, are common:
- Tightening the thigh, leg straight, pressing the back of the knee against the bed for a few seconds;
- Bending the knee by sliding the heel towards the buttocks, lying down or sitting;
- Fully straightening the knee, heel resting on a cushion, so that it does not stay bent;
- Going up and down a step, holding the handrail;
- Pedaling on an exercise bike, without resistance at first, once the knee bends enough.
Applying cold to the knee after the exercises and raising the leg help reduce swelling.
Living with a knee replacement
Most patients return to an active life without their previous pain: walking, hiking, cycling, swimming, golf, dancing. Impact or pivoting sports, such as intensive running, football or singles tennis, are usually not recommended. Kneeling remains possible, but is often uncomfortable. Keep your prosthesis card: it may set off metal detectors at the airport. Tell any doctor or dentist about it, and have any infection treated quickly to protect the prosthesis.
How long does a knee replacement last?
A knee replacement is made to last: more than 8 out of 10 knee prostheses are still working 25 years after they were fitted. For most patients, it is an operation done once in a lifetime.
Expected results
- Pain decreases clearly in the vast majority of patients, even if the knee sometimes stays sensitive for several months;
- Walking becomes longer and easier, with less painful stairs;
- The leg straightens when it was deformed inwards or outwards;
- The result keeps improving for 6 months to 1 year; a minority of patients nevertheless keep some discomfort.
What affects the lifespan
- Age and activity: a young and very active person uses the prosthesis for longer and more intensely;
- Weight: every extra kilo increases the load on the knee;
- The quality of the fitting: good leg alignment and well-balanced ligaments limit wear;
- The sports you practice: repeated impacts and pivots wear the insert faster.
When does a prosthesis need to be replaced?
A worn or loosened prosthesis can show up as new pain, swelling, an unstable knee, or only as signs of wear on an X-ray. It can then be replaced in a new operation, called revision surgery, which is longer than the first. A check-up with an X-ray is recommended one year after surgery, then every few years, even if your knee does not hurt.
What are the risks of a knee replacement?
A knee replacement relieves most patients, but it remains major surgery. The risks are discussed with the surgeon before any decision, and no result can be guaranteed.
During surgery
- Bleeding: it is monitored and, more rarely, requires a transfusion;
- Injury to a nerve or blood vessel behind the knee: very rare;
- A bone fracture while fitting the prosthesis: rare, it is repaired during the operation.
After surgery
| Possible complication | Good to know |
|---|---|
| Blood clot and pulmonary embolism | Prevented by anticoagulant treatment, compression stockings and getting up early |
| Hematoma or significant swelling | Usually resolves on its own, with cold packs and the leg raised |
| Less sensitive skin next to the scar | Common, often without discomfort, sometimes permanent |
| Knee stiffness | Limited by well-followed rehabilitation from the first days |
| Persistent pain | A minority of patients keep some discomfort, even with a well-fitted prosthesis |
| Prosthesis infection | Rare, but it may require long antibiotic treatment, or even another operation |
| Wear or loosening | Possible after many years, sometimes with a replacement of the prosthesis |
How to reduce these risks?
- follow the anticoagulant treatment and wear compression stockings for as long as prescribed;
- do your exercises every day to regain bending and avoid stiffness;
- keep the scar clean and dry until it has fully closed;
- have any infection treated quickly, even dental or urinary, and tell any doctor or dentist about your prosthesis.
How to choose your hospital and quote?
A low price is not enough. Ask the hospital these questions before committing:
- Is the hospital authorized by the Turkish Ministry of Health to treat international patients?
- Who will perform the surgery, and how experienced are they with this technique?
- Which prosthesis is planned (brand, model, total or partial), and why for you?
- How many physiotherapy sessions are included on site, and what program is planned after your return?
- Who takes care of a complication, on site and after your return home?
- What and rehabilitation follow-up is planned, and with whom?
What a good quote should specify
- The name of the hospital and the doctor
- The tests, anesthesia, hospital stay and medication included
- The number of nights in hospital and at the hotel, and the transfers
- What happens in case of complication or cancellation
- The follow-up offered after your return
Also budget for your flight and follow-up consultations. Planned treatment in Turkey is usually not covered by public health insurance: ask your insurer in writing before committing.
Our partner hospitals in Turkey
Frequently asked questions about knee replacement in Turkey
How much does a knee replacement cost in Turkey?
With TurquieMed, the knee replacement package starts at $12,000, with the surgery, 4 nights in hospital with meals, medication, laboratory tests, transfers and an interpreter. The final price depends on the type of prosthesis, its brand, the technique and the hospital: it appears on your free quote.
How long do I need to stay in Turkey?
Usually 7 to 14 days: 3 to 5 days in hospital, then a few days at the hotel with physiotherapy, until the final check.
When can I fly after a knee replacement?
Usually after the final check, about 7 to 10 days after surgery, with a treatment against blood clots and compression stockings. During the flight, get up and walk regularly.
When can I walk normally again?
You walk from the first days with a walker, then with crutches for 4 to 6 weeks. Most patients walk without help after 6 to 8 weeks, and the knee keeps improving for several months.
How long does a knee replacement last?
More than 8 out of 10 knee prostheses are still working 25 years after they were fitted. Their lifespan depends on your age, weight and activity.
Can both knees be operated on at the same time?
Yes, it is possible in some patients in good health, but most often both knees are operated on a few weeks or months apart. The surgeon decides depending on your health.
Is knee replacement surgery painful?
The operation itself does not hurt, as you are under anesthesia. In the first days, pain is controlled by medication and often by a nerve block in the thigh. The knee stays sensitive and swollen for a few weeks, especially during rehabilitation, then the pain decreases clearly.
Total or partial knee replacement: which one to choose?
The wear of the knee decides. A partial replacement only suits a knee damaged on one side, with ligaments in good condition; recovery is then faster. If wear affects the whole knee, a total replacement is the solution. The surgeon advises you based on your X-rays.
Can I kneel with a knee replacement?
Yes, it is possible and safe for the prosthesis, but many patients find the position uncomfortable. A cushion under the knee helps.
What documents should I send for an opinion?
Recent standing X-rays of both knees, front and side views, your doctor’s report, your medical history and your list of medication. In particular, mention anticoagulant treatment, diabetes or heart disease.
Is surgery in Turkey covered by insurance?
Planned surgery in Turkey is usually not covered by public health insurance systems, which generally only reimburse urgent and unforeseen care abroad. Physiotherapy after your return is often covered at home. Some private insurers and international health plans do cover treatment abroad: ask your insurer in writing before committing, and keep all your invoices and medical reports.
Request a free medical opinion and quote
Send us your X-rays, MRI or CT scan and your medical reports. An orthopedic surgeon will review your file, and you will receive a detailed medical opinion and an estimated quote.
