Knee Replacement in Turkey

A knee replacement (knee arthroplasty) resurfaces a knee damaged by arthritis with metal and plastic components, to relieve pain and make walking easier when non-surgical treatment is no longer enough. In Turkey, a package for one knee typically costs about €6,000–12,000 in 2026, depending on the hospital, implant and technique. Most international patients plan 10–14 days in the country, including physiotherapy and a wound check before flying home.

What knee replacement is and how it works

In osteoarthritis, the cartilage covering the ends of the thigh bone (femur) and shin bone (tibia) wears away until bone grinds on bone. In a total knee replacement, the surgeon removes the damaged surfaces and caps both bones with metal components, with a plastic insert between them as the new gliding surface. A partial (unicompartmental) replacement renews only the worn section, usually the inner side. The operation usually takes about 1–2 hours under spinal or general anaesthesia.

Implant types

Implants differ in design (keeping or replacing the posterior cruciate ligament) and materials: most combine cobalt-chrome or titanium alloys with a polyethylene insert, with alternatives for metal allergy. Ask for an established implant with long-term published results.

Total, partial or robotic-assisted: your options

Who is a good candidate

• Adults with severe knee arthritis — usually osteoarthritis, sometimes rheumatoid or post-injury arthritis — confirmed on X-rays.
• Pain or stiffness that limits walking, stairs, work or sleep despite non-surgical treatment: weight management, physiotherapy, walking aids, pain relief or steroid injections.
• People fit for anaesthesia and travel, with diabetes, blood pressure and heart conditions well controlled.
• Patients ready for weeks of daily exercises — a new knee bends well only if you work at it.

When to wait or think again

• Any active infection, including leg ulcers or a dental infection — it must be treated first.
• Mild arthritis, or pain that does not match the X-rays. Knee pain can come from the hip, in which case hip replacement may be the relevant operation.
• Younger people whose knee gives way after a ligament injury, without advanced arthritis — ACL reconstruction is the usual operation.
• Smoking or significant excess weight, which raise complication risks; NICE advises using the time before surgery for exercise, weight management and stopping smoking.

The procedure step by step

Recovery timeline

1. Day 0–1

   First steps

   Walking with a frame or crutches and gentle knee bending; compression stockings and preventive medicine against clots.

2. Days 1–4

   Leaving hospital

   Discharge once you walk safely and manage a few steps. Swelling and bruising are normal.

3. Days 10–14

   Wound check and travel review

   Stitches or clips usually come out after about 10 days; you receive a discharge summary and exercise plan before flying.

4. Weeks 2–6

   Rehabilitation at home

   Daily exercises; from two crutches to one, then a stick. The NHS suggests trying without an aid at about 6 weeks, and no driving for at least 6 weeks after a total knee (3 after a partial).

5. Weeks 6–12

   Back to routines

   A follow-up review at around 6 weeks; many people return to work between 6 and 12 weeks, depending on the job.

6. Months 3–12

   Full recovery

   Comfort and strength keep improving and swelling fades. Avoid heavy lifting for 3 months and ask before kneeling.

Results and how long they last

Most people have much less pain and walk more comfortably, although a new knee rarely feels exactly like a natural one — some stiffness can remain and kneeling may be uncomfortable. A 2019 analysis of national joint registry data in The Lancet estimated that about 82% of total and 70% of partial knee replacements still work after 25 years; the NHS likewise says most last around 25 years. Your age, activity level, weight and implant all influence how long yours lasts.

Risks and how to reduce them

• Blood clots (DVT) and pulmonary embolism — reduced by early walking, compression stockings and preventive medicine; UK NICE guidance recommends about 14 days of it after knee replacement.
• Infection — usually a superficial wound infection treated with antibiotics; a deep joint infection can mean further surgery.
• Stiffness — scar tissue can limit bending if exercises are skipped.
• Ongoing pain or instability in a minority of people.
• Nerve, blood vessel or ligament damage — uncommon.
• Wear or loosening of the implant over the years, eventually needing revision surgery.

Flying home after surgery

Surgery and long flights both raise the risk of blood clots, and there is no evidence-based rule on when to fly. In a 2023 survey of UK hip and knee surgeons, advice ranged from 14 to 180 days; some airlines require a doctor's certificate and some insurers restrict cover. Get written fit-to-fly advice, continue prescribed clot prevention, wear compression stockings and walk the aisle in flight.

Cost of knee replacement in Turkey and what's included

Prices differ between hospitals and cities, so compare itemised written quotes rather than headline figures. A reliable price needs a surgeon to review your X-rays and history — you can get free quotes from several hospitals and check what each includes.

Choosing a clinic safely

• Choose a hospital, not a small clinic, with intensive care and physiotherapy on site; JCI accreditation is a useful extra check.
• Confirm the operating surgeon's name — an orthopaedics and traumatology specialist registered in Turkey who regularly performs knee replacements.
• Check the hospital holds the Ministry of Health's International Health Tourism Authorisation Certificate (Uluslararası Sağlık Turizmi Yetki Belgesi).
• Ask for the implant make and model and a written quote covering physiotherapy, nights in hospital and the complication and revision policy.
• Red flags: pressure to book fast, unexplained rock-bottom prices, no named surgeon, 'pain-free' promises or no rehabilitation plan. See our overview of orthopedic surgery in Turkey.

A knee replacement takes a couple of hours in theatre and months of work afterwards. Choose a hospital that plans your rehabilitation as carefully as the operation.

— WhichClinic Editorial Team