Joint replacement (arthroplasty) removes the damaged surfaces of a joint and substitutes metal, ceramic and plastic components. Hips and knees make up the great majority; shoulders, ankles, elbows and finger joints are replaced less often.
A joint replacement service does more than operate. It confirms that the joint is truly the source of pain, optimises your health beforehand, chooses an implant with a good registry record, and runs an enhanced recovery pathway with early walking and physiotherapy.
Conditions this service looks after
- Osteoarthritis of the hip, knee or shoulder
- Rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis with joint destruction
- Avascular necrosis
- Arthritis after fractures or ligament injuries
- Hip dysplasia in adults
- Certain hip and shoulder fractures in older people
- Rotator cuff tear arthropathy
- Failed previous joint replacement
Tests you may be offered
- Weight bearing X-rays: The main evidence of arthritis severity; MRI is rarely needed.
- Examination of the joint and spine: Separates hip pain from referred back pain, and checks ligaments and muscle function.
- Blood tests: Anaemia, diabetes control (HbA1c), kidney function and infection markers.
- Heart and lung assessment: ECG, and echocardiogram or further tests when indicated.
- Screening for infection sources: Dental, urinary and skin problems are treated first.
- CT planning: For robotic surgery, shoulder replacement and deformed anatomy.
Treatments available
- Total hip replacement: Stem, head and cup; cemented or uncemented.
- Total and partial knee replacement: Resurfacing of all or one compartment of the knee.
- Anatomic and reverse shoulder replacement: Chosen according to rotator cuff function.
- Total ankle replacement: An alternative to fusion for selected people.
- Revision replacement: Exchange of loosened, worn or infected implants.
- Enhanced recovery programme: Pre-operative education, spinal anaesthesia, tranexamic acid, same day walking and clot prevention.
- Non-surgical management: Exercise, weight loss, walking aids and injections while surgery can still be postponed.
When to ask for a specialist opinion
- Joint pain that wakes you at night or limits walking to a few hundred metres
- X-rays showing advanced arthritis and failed non-surgical care
- Increasing deformity such as bow legs or a shortening leg
- Reliance on daily strong painkillers
- Loss of independence in daily activities
Travelling to Türkiye for this care
Joint replacement is among the most common reasons for orthopaedic travel and can be planned well in advance. Expect about 12 to 18 days in Istanbul for a hip or knee. Before flying you should be walking safely with crutches, have a dry wound, and hold a plan for blood thinners and compression stockings. Arrange physiotherapy and a doctor for wound checks and stitch removal at home. Later implant surveillance with X-rays is done locally.
Send your reports, scans and a short history and a Clinic-Y coordinator replies within 24 hours with suitable teams and written, all-inclusive proposals side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
الأسئلة المتكررة
Am I too young or too old?
Age alone does not decide. Health, severity of arthritis and how much your life is restricted matter more. Younger patients face a higher lifetime chance of revision.
Which implant is right for me?
Ask for a model with at least 10 years of good registry results. Novel designs are not automatically better.
How much weight should I lose first?
Even 5 to 10 percent loss reduces pain. A body mass index above about 40 markedly raises infection and wound risks, and many surgeons ask for reduction before surgery.
What can I not do afterwards?
Running, jumping and contact sport are discouraged. Walking, cycling, swimming, golf and doubles tennis are generally fine.