How much does a knee replacement cost in Turkey?
The cost of a knee replacement in Turkey ranges from £4,700 to £11,200, compared with £13,000 in the UK. This package covers general or spinal anaesthesia, a 2 to 3 hour procedure and 3 to 5 nights in hospital. Accommodation and physiotherapy are included too.
📊 Price table 2026
| Type of procedure | Price in Turkey | Price in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement (TKR) | £4,700 - £11,200 | £11,000 - £15,500 |
| Partial knee replacement | £2,800 - £6,700 | £7,500 - £12,000 |
| Bilateral surgery (both knees) | £6,900 - £11,200 | £15,000 - £22,000 |
| Knee replacement revision | £7,300 - £10,800 | £12,500 - £18,500 |
What is a knee replacement?
Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is a surgical procedure that replaces the bearing surfaces of the knee joint to relieve pain and disability. The knee joint is replaced with an artificial joint made from metal alloys, plastics and polymers.
The different types of replacement
- Total knee replacement (TKR):
During a total knee arthroplasty, the surgeon removes the damaged cartilage and bone from the surface of the knee joint and replaces them with an artificial surface of metal and plastic. - Partial knee replacement (UKA):
In a partial knee arthroplasty (unicompartmental knee arthroplasty), the surgeon replaces only part of your knee joint. The advantages of partial knee arthroplasty include a smaller incision, a shorter hospital stay, less blood loss, easier post-operative rehabilitation, a lower risk of infection, blood clots and stiffness, and an easier revision if needed. On the other hand, in the New Zealand registry, its risk of revision is about twice that of a total replacement, at all ages[1].
- Minimally invasive knee replacement surgery:
Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) uses specialised techniques and instruments to allow the surgeon to perform a major operation without a large incision.
Minimally invasive knee arthroplasty requires a smaller incision than the standard approach.
Minimally invasive surgery can lead to less pain, a shorter recovery time and improved movement thanks to less scar tissue forming. - Knee replacement revision surgery:
Knee revision surgery is performed to replace a knee replacement when it is worn, loose or infected: in the New Zealand registry, infection accounts for 27% of the reasons for revising a total replacement[1].
Revision is usually more complicated and longer than the initial operation. There is no limit to the number of times you can have revision surgery, but it is widely accepted that the artificial knee joint becomes less effective each time it is replaced.
How long will the artificial knee last?
According to national registries, around 82% of total knee replacements are still in place 25 years after implantation[2], the lifespan depending on the type of joint used and the strain you put on your new knee.
Around one in five patients is still not satisfied with the result, and the main driver of dissatisfaction is the gap between their expectations and the result achieved, which multiplies this risk by 10.7[3].
If you are considering treatment abroad, it is worth checking in advance what your NHS cover provides in your situation.
FAQ about knee replacement in Turkey
Procedure/surgery duration:
A knee replacement operation usually lasts 2 to 3 hours. Add preparation, anaesthesia and monitoring in the recovery room: the patient returns to their room several hours after entering the operating theatre.
How much does a knee replacement cost in Turkey and the UK?
In Turkey, a total knee replacement costs £4,700 to £11,200, implant included, compared with £11,000 to £15,500 in the UK. A partial replacement costs £2,800 - £6,700. The price of a hip replacement in Turkey follows its own scale.
Days in hospital:
Usually 3 to 5 days in hospital. Discharge depends on being able to stand up, walk with crutches and climb a few steps safely. Physiotherapy begins in hospital and continues after discharge, for several weeks.
Anaesthesia:
The procedure is performed under general anaesthesia or under regional anaesthesia, spinal or epidural, which numbs only the lower body. The choice is made with the anaesthetist during the pre-operative consultation, depending on your state of health.
Risks:
The main risks are knee stiffness, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, nerve injury, infection, heart attack and stroke. In an Australian registry, infection affects 1.3% to 1.9% of total replacements at 90 days[4].
Can you fly after a knee replacement?
A study of 220 patients who flew within ten days found no more clots[5], but it is too small to rule out a risk and does not take flight duration into account. The decision to fly home is made with the surgeon, like the rest of your medical stay in Turkey.
Sources & References
- Tay ML, Young SW, Frampton CM, Hooper GJ. The lifetime revision risk of unicompartmental knee arthroplasty. The Bone & Joint Journal. 2022. View the source
- Evans JT, Walker RW, Evans JP, Blom AW, Sayers A, Whitehouse MR. How long does a knee replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 15 years of follow-up. The Lancet. 2019. View the source
- Bourne RB, Chesworth BM, Davis AM, Mahomed NN, Charron KDJ. Patient satisfaction after total knee arthroplasty: who is satisfied and who is not? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2010. View the source
- Jin X, Gallego Luxan B, Hanly M, et al. Estimating incidence rates of periprosthetic joint infection after hip and knee arthroplasty for osteoarthritis using linked registry and administrative health data. The Bone & Joint Journal. 2022. View the source
- Cooper HJ, Sanders SA, Berger RA. Risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism associated with flying in the early postoperative period following elective total hip and knee arthroplasty. The Journal of Arthroplasty. 2014. View the source
