What is the price of a shoulder replacement in Turkey?
The price of a shoulder replacement in Turkey ranges from £3,000 to £8,700, compared with £10,500 to £15,500 in the UK. This package includes general anaesthesia, the 2 to 3 hour procedure and 2 to 3 nights in hospital. Hotel accommodation and post-operative physiotherapy are also included.
📊 Price table 2026
| Type of procedure | Price in Turkey | Price in the UK |
|---|---|---|
| Total shoulder replacement | £3,000 - £8,700 | £9,000 - £13,000 |
| Reverse shoulder replacement | £6,300 - £9,700 | £11,000 - £14,500 |
| Hemiarthroplasty (partial) | £4,000 - £5,700 | £7,000 - £9,500 |
| Revision shoulder surgery | £7,000 - £10,500 | £13,000 - £18,000 |
Cover for a shoulder replacement depends on your individual policy and circumstances. If you are considering treatment abroad, check what your NHS entitlement and any private medical insurance provide in your case.
What is a shoulder replacement?
Shoulder replacement (arthroplasty) is an operation in Turkey in which a prosthesis is used to replace all or part of the glenohumeral joint in order to relieve disability and pain.
Shoulder arthroplasty is a surgical procedure in Istanbul in which the shoulder joint is replaced with an artificial joint.
Shoulder arthroplasty is performed when the shoulder joint is severely damaged by arthritis or physical injury, and when medication and lifestyle adjustments have failed to treat the pain and restricted movement caused by the damaged joint.
How is shoulder replacement surgery performed in Turkey?
- An anterior incision is made over the shoulder.
- The nerves, muscles and blood vessels are moved to one side.
- The shoulder joint capsule is cut open, which allows the surgeon to see the joint.
- The ball of the humeral head is removed with a bone saw.
- The cavity inside the humerus is scraped out and a space is created to fix the metal stem of the humeral component.
- If the glenoid is to be replaced, a tool called a reamer is used to grind away the cartilage on its surface.
- Holes are drilled into the shoulder blade where the stem of the glenoid component is fixed.
- The humeral and glenoid components are then placed and the humeral ball is fixed.
- Once the joint is anchored, it is checked to confirm it has been correctly fixed.
- The surgeon sutures the joint capsule.
- The nerves, muscles and blood vessels are returned to their original position.
- The incision is closed with sutures and covered with a dressing.
The artificial shoulder joint
There are two types of shoulder joint implant:
- Cemented: the cemented implant is held in place by orthopaedic cement that bonds the metal to the bone.
- Uncemented: the uncemented implant has a porous coating on its surface, and the bone grows into this coating. In time, the implant bonds with the bone.
The artificial implant is made up of two parts:
- The humeral component: the humeral head, which is the ball of the joint, is replaced by the humeral component. It is made of metal.
- The glenoid component: the socket of the joint, which forms part of the shoulder blade, is replaced by the glenoid component. It consists of two parts: the socket, made of a tough, smooth plastic cup, and a metal plate that is fixed to the bone.
Anatomical or reverse shoulder replacement: what is the difference?
The reverse shoulder replacement swaps the ball and the socket of the joint. In eleven national registries, it is used in 97.3% of arthritic shoulders with a massive rotator cuff tear; when the cuff is intact, anatomical and reverse replacements split practice between them[1].
How should you prepare for shoulder arthroplasty in Turkey?
- The patient has a physical examination to confirm they are fit enough for surgery.
- The patient must undergo several tests in Turkey, such as blood and urine tests, X-rays and an electrocardiogram.
- The doctor must be told about any medication the patient takes, whether prescribed or not.
- This may include supplements, herbal remedies or medicines. Some medications the patient takes may need to be stopped two weeks before the procedure.
- The Turkish doctor must be told if the patient has any illness or health condition.
- The doctor must be told if the patient drinks more than two glasses of alcohol a day.
- The patient should stop smoking to support recovery.
Duration of surgery: 2 to 3 hours
Hospital stay: 2 to 3 days
Anaesthesia: General anaesthesia
Recovery:
The patient’s shoulder may be attached to a continuous passive motion machine, which helps reduce joint stiffness and relieve pain.
- A drainage tube may be used to drain excess fluid after the operation.
- A sling is used to keep the patient’s arm at rest. How long it is worn is decided by the surgeon.
- The patient will be able to carry out light activities such as eating and washing a few weeks after the operation.
- Returning to driving is decided with the surgeon.
- The patient must follow a physiotherapy programme that begins the day after the operation.
- Recovery continues over several months: at 12 months, around one in four patients has not reached the threshold of clinically significant improvement on the QuickDASH functional score[2].
Risks:
The risks of shoulder arthroplasty are as follows:
- Fracture of the humerus during the operation
- Tendon rupture
- Shoulder instability
- Loosening of the glenoid implant
- Dislocation of the joint
- Injury to a nerve or blood vessel
- Bleeding
- Blood clots
- Infection
Post-operative care:
The patient must continue the physiotherapy programme for several months. A physiotherapist will help the patient carry out exercises that improve the strength and stability of the shoulder.
The schedule of follow-up appointments is set by the surgeon: the UK agency NICE notes that optimal follow-up of a shoulder replacement has not been established[3]. Before dental treatment or any other invasive procedure, the patient should mention that they have a prosthesis: the practitioner decides on a case-by-case basis whether antibiotic prophylaxis is worthwhile.
The doctor must be told immediately if the following symptoms occur:
- High fever
- Excessive discharge from the surgical wound.
- Redness and swelling around the incision
- Severe pain
FAQ - Frequently asked questions
How much does a shoulder replacement cost in Turkey and in the UK?
A total shoulder replacement costs £3,000 to £8,700 in Turkey, compared with £9,000 to £13,000 in the UK. A reverse replacement costs £6,300 to £9,700, compared with £11,000 to £14,500. See also medical tourism in Turkey.
How long does a shoulder replacement last?
Around 90% of shoulder replacements are still in place at 10 years[4], and the same proportion at 15 years according to four national registries[5]. No registry publishes 20-year survival data, and no source gives a figure at 25 years.
Is the reverse shoulder replacement proven in the long term?
Its follow-up is the shortest: of 469 reverse replacements followed for an average of 12 years, 36% had a complication and 23% of patients needed revision surgery. The authors call for caution, as 63% of patients were lost to follow-up[6].
Do you regain full movement after a reverse replacement?
Not entirely. Beyond 10 years of follow-up, the average gain reaches 54° in abduction and 52° in forward elevation, but only 8° in external rotation, a movement used in many everyday tasks[6].
Who provides follow-up after shoulder surgery in Turkey?
Once back home, follow-up is provided by an orthopaedic surgeon. The ideal schedule has not been established for the shoulder[3]. A prosthetic joint infection is managed at a specialist bone and joint infection centre[7].
What documents should you bring back from Turkey after the implant is fitted?
The operation report and the implant card, which carries the reference and batch number of the prosthesis. In the European Union, regulation 2017/745 requires this card[8]: in Turkey, you need to ask for it before you leave.
Can you fly after a shoulder replacement?
No study measures the clot risk linked to the return flight after a shoulder replacement: the published data relate to hip replacement and knee replacement. The flight date is agreed with the surgeon.
Sources & References
- Rupani N, Combescure C, Silman A, Lübbeke A, Rees J. International trends in shoulder replacement: a meta-analysis from 11 public joint registers. Acta Orthopaedica. 2024. View source
- Lazaridou A, Giannakis P, Schneller T, et al. Is Arm Dominance Associated With Clinically Meaningful Differences in Outcomes After Shoulder Arthroplasty? Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research. 2026. View source
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Joint replacement (primary): hip, knee and shoulder, NG157. 2020. View source
- Evans JP, Evans JT, Craig RS, et al. How long does a shoulder replacement last? A systematic review and meta-analysis of case series and national registry reports with more than 10 years of follow-up. The Lancet Rheumatology. 2020. View source
- Bhatti F, Waseem S, Singh H, et al. Long-term survival outcomes following total shoulder arthroplasty: an implant-level systematic review and meta-analysis. Shoulder & Elbow. 2026. View source
- Biner M, Klotz S, Andronic O, et al. Long-Term Outcomes Following Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty: A Systematic Review with a Minimum Follow-Up of 10 Years. JB & JS Open Access. 2025. View source
- Haute Autorité de Santé. Prothèse de hanche ou de genou : diagnostic et prise en charge de l’infection dans le mois suivant l’implantation. 2014. View source
- Commission européenne. Règlement (UE) 2017/745 relatif aux dispositifs médicaux, article 18 : carte d’implant et informations à fournir au patient. View source
