Join hundreds of clinics and acquire new patients from abroad. Please fill out the form and we will get back to you within 2 days.
Filters
Below you can find the list of clinics offering Knee Replacement Surgery Abroad.
9 results
Antalya, Turkey
Izmir, Turkey
Istanbul, Turkey
Bursa, Turkey
from 6924 eur
Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common orthopaedic surgeries performed today. In the UK around 80,000 of these operations are performed annually with a 90%+ success rate.
What is a knee replacement? A new knee replacement, or to give it its official name – knee arthroplasty – is performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. The ‘hinge’ joint of the knee is cut out and replaced with a prosthesis, usually made from plastic and a metal alloy. Most often the whole knee joint is replaced and this is known as total knee replacement surgery. Sometimes, it is possible to save part of the natural knee and this is known as a partial knee replacement.
Why is a knee replacement operation required? The main reason for an artificial knee replacement is osteoarthritis. This is when the smooth cartilage lining, which acts as a cushion between the bones of the joint, starts to break down. Ultimately, this can lead to the bones rubbing together so that their surfaces become rough and uneven. This, in turn, results in pain and limitations in movement. Other less common reasons for needing knee replacement surgery is rheumatoid arthritis, gout, ankolysing spondylitis and, of course, injury.
Knee repalcement suergery or knee arthroplast is very common orthopedic surgery,
Although knee replacement is very effective, the total recovery period of about three months, together with the fairly intensive physiotherapy required post-surgery to ensure a successful outcome, means that it is generally only performed when other non-invasive forms of treatment have been tried. Possible other forms of treatment include anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication, steroid injections and physiotherapy. If or when these non-invasive methods of treatment no longer solve the issue, knee replacement surgery may be the only alternative. More extensive knee replacement information can be found in our article on Knee Replacement.
Unfortunately the waiting lists for elective (non-emergency) surgery on the NHS continue to get longer and longer due to the disruption of the Covid-19 epidemic. For those seeking a swifter solution to their problem, the only alternative is private treatment, which, for those without private medical insurance, will cost in the region of £12,000 – £14,000 in the UK. This not inconsiderable amount of money can, however, be greatly reduced by having knee replacement abroad.
Medical tourism is an expanding market, chiefly due to the lower costs of surgery. For those people living in western Europe and North America where the costs of living are relatively high, countries in central and eastern Europe and Asia offer excellent value for money. However, as with any orthopaedic surgery, it pays to bear in mind that the return journey on the plane could be quite uncomfortable. In addition, air travel, particularly long haul, increases the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) which is more prevalent after major surgery. Taking these issues into account, it would seem that, for those people in western Europe, that central and eastern Europe are a good choice for knee replacement surgery abroad.
One of the best countries for medical tourism is Turkey.
The best country for knee replacement surgery? One of the best countries for medical tourism, Turkey, is an excellent destination for total or partial knee replacement abroad. It is only about a four-hour flight from/to most UK airports. The cost of medical treatment in Turkey is often up to 50% cheaper than in the UK and, additionally, it can boast some of the best knee replacement surgeons, many of whom have gained their experience by working abroad. Turkey has world-class private medical care and in Istanbul there are more private medical centres than public ones.
When it comes to the cost of knee replacement, Turkey is one of the cheapest destinations. When considering any medical treatment abroad (or indeed private treatment in the UK) it is very important to establish exactly how long the patient is normally expected to stay in the hospital/country and what the basic price includes. For example, the hospital stay of maybe three or four days is usually included in the basic knee replacement cost in Europe, but the medical centre will expect the patient to stay in the near vicinity for possibly up to another 10 days.
Some medical centres will provide accommodation for this period in their own establishment and some will provide accommodation in a nearby hotel, all included in the cost. Others will not include this cost in their basic package price, so there will be an additional 10 days hotel accommodation to factor into the cost. Other extras which may or may not be included in the price are: required diagnostic tests prior to surgery (although most medical centres will accept results of these tests from the UK), additional medication including blood transfusions where necessary, walking aids (e.g. crutches) and physiotherapy. The cost of flights to/from Turkey will always be an additional cost. So, it is important to do all the sums to work out exactly what the final knee replacement cost. Turkey, however, will always come out as one of the cheapest destinations.
Knee replacement surgery in the UK varies from region to region and clinic to clinic but generally, a patient is looking at paying £12,000-£14,000. The same variances apply in Turkey where different medical centres and surgeons will charge different prices, however prices here can start from as low as £5,000. Even with ‘extras’ added to this amount, it can be seen that substantial savings can be made by having knee replacement surgery in Turkey. Why so cheap? The big difference in price mainly comes from the huge differences in the cost of living. Compared to western Europe and America salaries are significantly lower and this is reflected in the cost of living generally. The surgeon’s salary is lower and the cost of building and maintaining medical centres is lower. This does not, however, equate to lower standards of service. So, having decided to have knee replacement surgery, Turkey would appear to be an ideal destination from the point of view of cost. What else can Turkey offer ?
For the majority of patients, cost is the main attraction when considering surgery in Turkey. However, it is also a very interesting place lying as it does at the crossroads of Europe and Asia. Its Mediterranean and Aegean resorts are extremely popular with tourists. This means that in addition to the cheap budget airlines, there are also many good deals to be had on the holiday charter flights operating to these resort destinations. Good quality medical centres exist in some of these resorts.
The country’s largest city and economic and cultural centre is Istanbul which lies in both Europe and Asia. Istanbul is home to almost a fifth of the Turkish population and is the world’s 16th largest city (in terms of population – London ranks 37th). It is, obviously, home to many of the international medical centres in Turkey.
Istanbul is home to many of the international medical centres in Turkey.
Turkey has a plethora of experienced and well-qualified medical professionals, most of whom are US board certified. Many have earned additional educational qualifications, certifications and fellowships from many prestigious institutions around the world. All medical staff in the international medical centres speak English and doctors are expected to keep abreast of the latest developments in their respective specialisations.
Basic medical training for a doctor in Turkey lasts six years and this is then followed by a five-year training programme in order to become a specialist such as an orthopaedic surgeon or orthopaedist as they are known. Many Turkish specialists are foreign-educated doctors, meaning that they have done most of their training, or at least gained experience, in other countries. Due to the economic ties between the two countries, Germany is a favourite but Turkish doctors can be found in all the western European countries and North America.
Based on reviews and the surgical history of patients, it is estimated that, in Turkey, the knee replacement success rate is at least 95%. There are slightly different parameters for the knee replacement success rate UK wise. For the period 2018/2019 a survey found that 75% of knee replacement patients said their problems were much better than before and 15% felt a little better after surgery. Against the background of these figures the success rate for Turkey looks quite impressive. The partial knee replacement success rate is very similar. There can be no doubt that Turkey is among some of the top countries for knee replacement surgery with medical tourists coming from all over the world.
The two main types of knee replacement are either total knee replacement or partial (or unicompartmental) knee replacement. A total knee replacement includes replacing the three ‘compartments’ of the knee joint:
A partial knee replacement, as the name implies, replaces just one of these ‘compartments’. Probably, total knee replacement is the most common of the different types of knee replacement surgery.
When it comes to the actual surgery itself, as with many operations these days, the surgeon will try to use minimally invasive surgery i.e. a few small incisions rather than one large incision. However, this type of surgery has its disadvantages as well as its advantages and may not be suitable in all cases. This can be discussed with the surgeon in Turkey prior to the operation.
When it comes to other knee replacement options, the surgeon will have to decide on which knee replacement prosthesis to use i.e. in respect of the manufacturer as well as the knee replacement material. The four main manufacturers of knee replacement prostheses worldwide are Stryker, Zimmer Bionet, DePuty and Smith & Nephew. All these types of knee replacement prosthesis are available in Turkey, however it is important to bear in mind that each type has its own method of fitting so surgeons, generally, have a specific prosthesis they use for most surgeries, with a couple of backup options when their first choice is not suitable. Knee replacement materials include plastic, metal alloys and ceramic materials. Generally, total metal knee replacements are seldom used these days, due to the rare possibility of allergies and metallosis. The most commonly used materials are now a combination of metal and plastic and the majority of knee replacement operations now use this type of knee replacement prosthesis. Ceramic knee replacements, although used for a while in hip replacements, are a fairly new development in knee replacements, however, results so far have been very positive.
So, when it comes to different types of knee replacement surgery, there are quite a lot of different options. Ultimately, the surgeon will have the final say in what he/she believes is the best option in each particular case, however it is worth discussing these options with the Turkish surgeon.
As with many orthopaedic procedures post operative care is very important. The total success of the surgery is very much reliant on the knee replacement aftercare and the physiotherapy programme.
The usual length of hospital stay for knee replacement is one to three days, depending on how well the surgery wounds heal and the general condition of the patient and, in particular, their mobility. During this time the medical staff and physiotherapists will provide post operative knee replacement care including conducting sessions to strengthen the knee. Most medical centres recommend that the patient remains in Turkey for up to 14 days after the surgery, for follow-up medical checks and physiotherapy sessions. After the initial period of a few days post-surgery, sometimes the patient may still be able to stay in the hospital/clinic for the remaining period of time or occasionally they will be accommodated in a nearby hotel for their recuperation. It is important to check with the hospital/clinic in Turkey exactly what their post operative care for total knee replacement package includes. Most medical establishments will include the cost of some sort of physiotherapy in their post op knee replacement package.
One of the most frequent questions asked by knee replacement patients is: Do I need someone to stay with me after knee replacement surgery? The answer is: not necessarily. If required, many medical centres in Turkey will provide accommodation for a second person to accompany the patient and there is no doubt that it is helpful to have somebody during the stay in Turkey. It is important to remember that post op knee replacement, mobility will be a problem for a short while, so that even the simplest everyday tasks may be very difficult to perform. Certainly flying back to the UK with baggage, when on crutches is quite difficult, so it is helpful if somebody else accompanies you on your trip.
In summary, total knee replacement aftercare is very important and it is important to establish exactly what the medical centre includes in their cost. Most hospitals/clinics in Turkey provide a comprehensive aftercare package for up to 14 days post surgery.
Turkey is a highly developed country in medical terms. It is famous for its integrated technological treatments which make it a very prominent country in the field of medicine and health services. It has around 27 hospitals/clinics which have been accredited by the Joint Commission International (JCI). JCI is a US organisation which supports health care organisations to strengthen their own systems and structures to support transformation to high reliability. They perform regular checks of their accredited establishments.
It is estimated that up to one-third of the patients treated in Turkish medical centres are from abroad, this means that being able to communicate with patients is an important issue. English, as the unofficial world-wide lingua franca, is compulsory for those staff working in these private medical centres which cater for medical tourists. Their patients, in addition to coming from English speaking countries like the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada etc., often come from other countries where English is widely spoken such as many countries in the Middle East and in Scandinavia. English speaking doctors are, therefore, a given.
In general, it is estimated that almost one-fifth of Turks speak English, however this figure is much, much higher in the major cities and main tourist destinations. So, even outside of the medical centre environment English speaking is very common in places like Istanbul, Ankara, Marmaris, Antalya and all along the Turkish Riviera.
When it comes to medical treatment abroad, as we have seen, Turkey is up there among one of the most common destinations. With Brexit bringing about the demise of the NHS treatment abroad package (which only applied to the EU and NOT Turkey), Turkey is set to become even more popular and there are many cities to visit in Turkey.
As with any country, the capital city will always have some of the best medical facilities. Ankara, as the administrative capital of Turkey, has some excellent facilities as has Istanbul, which could be classed as the commercial capital of Turkey. These cities are the two most important cities in Turkey. Flights to Istanbul are fairly frequent from all the major airports in the UK, especially as Istanbul tends to be a popular destination for short break weekends. Flights to Ankara are a little less frequent, mainly because it is not recognised as a popular tourist destination. However, Turkish airlines have a regular timetable from London, with the expectation that other UK airports will be served post-pandemic.
Other popular destinations for getting medical treatment abroad in Turkey, include those which attract tourists along the Mediterranean and Aegean coastlines. Izmir, for example, is a major airport for those tourists visiting the Mediterranean resorts and therefore, also popular for treatment abroad. There are a few medical centres in Izmir where knee replacement therapy is performed. Due to its popularity as a holiday destination, it is possible to buy seats on charter flights at good prices from many UK airports. Other best cities in Turkey, from the point of view of frequency of tourist flights, include Dalaman and Antalya. Once tour operators have reverted to their full programme of charter flights from the various UK main and provincial airports, flights to Antalya and Dalaman will be operating frequently and cheaply.
The best cities to visit in Turkey? When considering treatment abroad in Turkey, major cities from the point of view of ease of access and high quality medical treatment are: Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and Antalya. Most important, obviously, is finding a hospital/clinic in one of these locations, which can provide the best option for knee replacement suited to the individual’s needs and circumstances. Our consultants can assist you in making the right choice.
There are, of course, other countries which can also offer value for money prices when it comes to knee replacement surgery. Here is a list of some costs in other countries. Knee replacement in Spain is an interesting proposition and flight times between airports in the UK and Spain are between 2-3 hours. Unfortunately the surgery costs are only minimally cheaper than in the UK and flight costs, although fairly cheap, will be an added extra.
Further afield both Thailand and India can offer cheaper prices than the UK. The total knee replacement cost in India is exceptionally good value and many of the medical centres are of a high standard with a high success rate for knee arthroplasty. However, although it has a very favourable knee replacement cost, India is a long way to travel. An 8-9 hour flight could prove to be quite uncomfortable after such major surgery. The same situation applies to having surgery in Thailand. The cost of knee replacement in Thailand is slightly lower than in the UK, although remember that the cost of flight tickets have to be added to this. Both India and Thailand may be a good choice if the surgery is being combined with a longer stay to visit family or friends.
Offering as it does, a very good knee replacement cost, Poland is a good alternative to Turkey. Flights are cheap and plentiful from many UK airports and it has a relatively short flight time of between 2 ½ and 3 ½ hours depending on the departure and destination airport. As well as having a very high success rate for knee replacement surgery, Poland can offer modern up-to-date medical facilities with experienced English-speaking doctors. When considering medical tourism for a knee replacement, Poland definitely features as one of the favourites alongside Turkey.
The Internet can provide a lot of information when it comes to information about knee replacement surgery. It is worth bearing in mind, however, that anybody can post anything they want on the Internet with no check as to its authenticity. Having said that, many knee replacement reviews are informative and very useful for people considering this type of surgery.
A knee replacement forum, with posts often written by patients who have actually been through the surgery themselves, is an excellent place to start. In addition, these websites provide an opportunity to raise questions about the surgery with answers coming from experts and people who have experienced the same issue. Where possible, it is best to find a knee replacement forum UK based. Two very good sites are patient.info and bonesmart.org., although there are many others including such sites as ‘Gransnet’, ‘Runners World’ and ‘Climbers UK’. Knee replacement blogs also often provide very useful information.
Total knee replacement pictures are also useful for showing a patient what they can expect in terms of the surgery and post-surgery recovery period. Please remember that everyone’s surgery is slightly different so these images are just examples of what the procedure may look like.
The decision to have knee replacement surgery should not be taken lightly as total recovery can take up to three months. However, it is the only long-term solution for those people suffering with excessive pain and severe limitations to movement. During the Covid-19 pandemic, hospital waiting lists for non-emergency surgery became longer and longer and there does not appear to be any evidence that this situation will ease in the near future. For those people who are not prepared to wait, private treatment can be a very good, but very expensive option. Private knee replacement in the UK costs around £12,000-£14,000 without any private medical insurance, however this cost can be as much as 50% less by seeking treatment abroad. Turkey, with its clean and modern medical centres and well-qualified and experienced surgeons is a good choice of destination for knee replacement surgery. Our sales consultants will be more than happy to provide you with our recommendations for a suitable hospital/clinic in Turkey which would match your medical needs.
Our sales consultants will help you to find the vest clinic in Turkey!
Contact us
Call us
Chat with us
