Knee replacement resurfaces the worn ends of the thigh bone and shin bone with metal caps separated by a plastic insert. In a total replacement all three compartments are addressed; in a partial replacement only the damaged one.
It relieves arthritic pain and straightens a bowed leg. It rarely feels like a natural knee: kneeling is often uncomfortable, deep bending is limited, and around 1 in 10 people remain dissatisfied despite a technically sound operation.
What Knee Replacement involves
A cut of 12 to 18 cm is made down the front of the knee and the kneecap is moved aside. The cruciate ligaments and menisci are removed as required. Using cutting guides set from pre-operative long leg X-rays, a navigation system or a robotic arm, the surgeon removes 8 to 10 mm of bone from the end of the femur and the top of the tibia so the leg axis is restored. Ligaments are balanced so the gap is equal in bending and straightening. Trial parts test motion and kneecap tracking. The final cobalt chrome femoral component and titanium tibial tray are fixed with bone cement, a polyethylene insert is locked in, and the back of the kneecap may be resurfaced. Tranexamic acid limits bleeding and local anaesthetic is infiltrated around the joint.
Who is a good candidate for Knee Replacement?
It is for advanced knee arthritis with daily pain and X-ray changes, after exercise, weight loss, painkillers and injections have stopped helping.
- Bone on bone osteoarthritis on standing X-rays
- Pain that limits walking to short distances or disturbs sleep
- Progressive bow leg or knock knee deformity from arthritis
- Rheumatoid or post traumatic arthritis with joint destruction
- Arthritis confined to the inner compartment with intact ligaments, for partial replacement
It is usually not the right choice if:
- Mild arthritis on X-ray, where results are clearly less satisfying
- Active infection or leg ulcers
- A non working quadriceps mechanism
- Severe vascular disease of the leg
- People unable to take part in the demanding exercise programme afterwards
Technique options
- Total knee replacement: Standard for arthritis affecting more than one compartment.
- Unicompartmental (partial) replacement: Smaller operation, faster recovery and more natural feel; slightly higher revision rate.
- Robotic or navigated surgery: Improves accuracy of bone cuts; evidence of better long term function is still limited.
- Cruciate retaining or posterior stabilised design: Chosen according to ligament condition and surgeon preference.
- Revision knee replacement: Longer stemmed or hinged implants for loosened or infected knees.
What happens during your treatment
Expect 60 to 100 minutes of surgery under spinal anaesthetic with sedation, or general anaesthetic, plus a nerve block. You stand with a frame within 24 hours and stay 3 to 5 nights. The knee is swollen and sore, and bending exercises begin on day one because early motion decides the final range.
Preparing for your trip
Plan for 14 to 18 days in Istanbul. Your surgeon reviews photographs and your medical history before you book, and you meet in person the day before surgery for examination, marking and consent with a professional interpreter.
- Stop smoking and nicotine at least four weeks before and after surgery; it is the single biggest avoidable cause of wound problems
- Tell the team about every medicine and supplement you take; blood thinners, some herbal products and hormone treatment may need to be paused on your doctor's advice
- Arrange for someone to travel with you or to be reachable, and keep the first days at home free of work and lifting
- Book a changeable return flight; your surgeon confirms when you are fit to fly
Recovery and results
The first 6 weeks are hard work. Targets are full straightening and at least 90 degrees of bend by 2 weeks, 110 or more by 6 weeks. Crutches are used for 3 to 6 weeks. Flying is reasonable from about 2 weeks with clot prevention. Swelling and warmth last 3 to 6 months and the knee goes on improving for a year or more.
- Back to everyday activity: 6 to 8 weeks
- When results show: Pain improves over 6 to 12 weeks; full result at 1 year
- How long they last: About 9 in 10 last 15 to 20 years
Safety, risks and revision policy
Most complications are treatable, but a few are serious.
- Stiffness needing manipulation under anaesthetic
- Deep infection in about 1 in 100, sometimes requiring staged revision
- Deep vein thrombosis or pulmonary embolism
- Persistent unexplained pain
- Numb patch on the outer side of the scar, which is almost universal
- Instability or kneecap tracking problems
- Loosening or plastic wear over years
- Injury to the peroneal nerve or popliteal vessels, rare
Every written proposal arranged through Clinic-Y states what the clinic covers if a correction is needed. Ask for it before you book, not after.
Cost of Knee Replacement in Türkiye
Clinic-Y does not publish a single price for Knee Replacement, because the honest figure depends on your case. What moves it:
- Total, partial or revision implant
- Use of robotic assistance
- One knee or both
- Length of hospital stay and inpatient physiotherapy
- Medical work-up for heart, lungs or diabetes
Send your photographs or reports and you receive written, all-inclusive proposals from suitable teams, side by side. Reviewing your case is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
What rehabilitation do I need after a knee prosthesis?
Daily bending and straightening exercises from day one, supervised physiotherapy two or three times a week for 6 to 12 weeks, then strengthening and cycling. Arrange your home physiotherapist before you travel.
Both knees at once?
Possible for fit patients, but the medical risk and the rehabilitation burden are higher. Many surgeons stage them a few days to a few months apart.
Will I be able to kneel?
Some can, many find it uncomfortable. It does not damage the implant.
Partial or total?
If arthritis is limited to one compartment and ligaments are intact, a partial replacement recovers faster. Your X-rays and examination decide.