Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Görkem Kıyak
OrthopedicsVerified
- 21+years exp.
English · Turkish
FromPrice on request
Free quote
60 seconds · no obligationView Profile
Joint Replacement
Knee makoplasty
What knee makoplasty is, how a robotic arm helps place a partial knee implant, what the evidence says about accuracy and recovery, who is a good candidate, how it compares with total knee replacement and osteotomy, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery, risks and how to choose a surgeon.
A written plan with the surgeon's name and the full price — usually within 24 hours.
- Category
- Joint Replacement
- Hospitals
- 2
- Verified
- 1
- Price from
- Price on request
Verified surgeons for Knee Makoplasty
1 doctor Compare doctors, ratings and prices — ask any of them for a free quote.
Knee makoplasty in Turkey: what it is and how it works
Knee makoplasty is a robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement. The name comes from the Mako system, a surgeon-controlled robotic arm used to prepare the bone and place an implant that replaces only the worn part of the knee, usually the inner (medial) compartment, sometimes the kneecap joint or the outer compartment. The rest of the knee, including the ligaments and the healthy cartilage, is left in place. The surgeon plans the operation from a CT scan, which builds a three-dimensional model of your knee; in theatre, the robotic arm keeps the saw within the planned boundaries, so the bone cut matches the plan.
It is a form of knee resurfacing for osteoarthritis that is limited to one side of the joint. This guide explains how it works step by step, what the evidence says, how it compares with total knee replacement and with other options, what it costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, and what recovery involves. For the full range of joint surgery see our orthopedics treatments in Turkey.
Is knee makoplasty a partial or a total knee replacement?
The Mako system can be used for both, which causes confusion. In the common use that people mean by makoplasty, a partial knee replacement, only the damaged compartment is resurfaced with a metal and plastic implant. A total knee replacement removes the surface of the whole joint. A partial replacement keeps more of your own bone and ligaments, so the knee often feels more natural and the recovery is a little quicker. The trade-off is that arthritis can progress in the untouched parts of the knee, and a later conversion to a total replacement may be needed. A surgeon should tell you at the consultation which operation they recommend and whether the robot is used for your case.
Does knee makoplasty actually work? What the evidence says
Partial knee replacement itself is a well-established operation, and national joint registries show good long-term survival of implants in suitable patients. What is less certain is how much the robot adds. Studies show that robotic assistance improves the accuracy of bone cuts and implant position compared with manual technique, and some trials report less early pain and quicker early recovery. Whether this leads to longer implant life or better long-term function is not yet proven; registry data are still maturing. A trustworthy clinic will describe the robot as a tool that helps precision, not as a guarantee of a good result, and will not claim that makoplasty has fewer risks than every alternative.
Who is a good candidate for knee makoplasty?
Good candidates have osteoarthritis or bone damage confined to one compartment of the knee, a stable knee with intact ligaments (especially the anterior cruciate ligament), a reasonable range of movement and pain that persists despite exercise, weight control, painkillers and often injections. Typical patients are in their fifties to seventies, though age is not a strict limit. You are less suited if the arthritis involves the whole knee, if the knee is very stiff or badly deformed, if you have inflammatory arthritis such as rheumatoid arthritis, or if you have a severe medical illness that makes surgery unsafe. X-rays, a CT scan and sometimes an MRI decide this; the final choice is made after imaging. See also joint replacement for how the options fit together.
How is knee makoplasty done, step by step?
Before the operation a CT scan creates the 3D plan. The operation is under spinal or general anaesthesia, often with a nerve block for pain, and lasts about one to two hours. A cut of around 8 to 12 cm is made over the knee. The surgeon registers your knee to the system by touching points on the bone, so the plan matches your real anatomy. The robotic arm then limits the saw or burr to the diseased area, removing the worn surface precisely. Trial implants are tested, the ligaments are balanced, and the final implant is fixed with bone cement. The wound is closed and a dressing applied. Most patients stand with a physiotherapist on the same day.
Makoplasty, total knee replacement or osteotomy?
| Option | Best suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Knee makoplasty (robotic partial replacement) | Arthritis in one compartment with a stable knee | Arthritis may progress elsewhere; may need conversion later |
| Total knee replacement | Arthritis across the whole knee, or deformity | Larger operation; more bone removed |
| High tibial osteotomy | Younger, active patients with early one-sided arthritis | Longer bone healing; not for advanced wear |
For the larger operation see our guide to total knee replacement, and for a bone-realigning option see tibial osteotomy. If the main problem is a torn cartilage or a mechanical symptom rather than established arthritis, knee arthroscopy may be considered first.
Knee makoplasty cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for the operation with the implant and hospital stay, not hospital quotes. They depend on the implant brand and type, whether it is a partial or total replacement, the length of stay and the physiotherapy included.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €7,000 – €16,000 |
| United Kingdom | €9,000 – €18,000 |
| United States | €25,000 – €50,000 |
| Germany | €9,000 – €18,000 |
Robotic assistance adds a cost to the operation because of the system and the pre-operative CT scan. A package normally includes the consultation and scans, the surgeon and anaesthetist, the implant, three to five hospital nights, physiotherapy, medication and transfers. Ask for the implant brand and model in writing, and whether a further fee applies if a total replacement is needed on the day.
Knee makoplasty recovery: week by week
You usually stand and walk with a frame or crutches on the day of surgery, and leave hospital after two to four nights. Swelling and bruising peak in the first week and ease over six to twelve weeks. Physiotherapy starts at once; the aim is to bend the knee to about 90 degrees in the first one to two weeks. Most patients stay in Turkey about seven to ten days so that the wound, the blood-thinning plan and the exercises can be checked before the flight. Many return to desk work after two to four weeks, drive after about four to six weeks if the surgeon agrees, and resume walking, swimming and cycling at three months. Running and impact sports are normally discouraged. Keep walking and use the leg-clot prevention advice on the flight home.
Knee makoplasty before and after: what are realistic results?
X-rays show a small implant in one side of the knee and the rest of the joint preserved, with a straighter leg. What people value is less pain on walking, stairs and sleep, and a knee that feels closer to natural than after a total replacement. Realistic expectations are a much-improved but not a perfect knee; some stiffness or a clicking sensation is common, kneeling can be uncomfortable and you may be aware of the implant for many months. Final results are judged at about three to twelve months. Ask the surgeon for the outcomes in patients similar to you rather than the best-case stories shown in advertisements.
Risks and complications of knee makoplasty
As with any knee replacement, risks include infection, bleeding, blood clots in the leg or lung, stiffness, persistent pain, nerve or vessel injury and anaesthetic problems. Specific to partial replacement are the progression of arthritis in other parts of the knee, loosening of the implant and the need for a later revision, and, with robotic assistance, rare pin-site problems and the extra radiation from the CT scan. Joint registries show partial replacements have a somewhat higher revision rate than total replacements in some series, but a quicker recovery and fewer complications in others. The NHS and national orthopaedic societies advise discussing these trade-offs and arranging follow-up before you travel.
How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Look for an orthopaedic surgeon who performs knee replacement regularly and has been trained on the robotic system, in a licensed hospital with an anaesthetist, intensive care and physiotherapists. Ask how many partial replacements the surgeon does each year. Red flags include recommending robotic surgery without a CT or X-ray review, no explanation of the alternatives, a promise that the knee will last for life, quotes that do not name the implant, and no plan for follow-up at home. Read how our process works and send your imaging through the free quote page for a written plan and price.
Questions to ask the clinic:
- Is my arthritis limited to one compartment, and do my ligaments suit a partial replacement?
- Which implant and robotic system will be used, and how many such operations do you do each year?
- What happens if a total replacement is needed during the operation?
- How many nights in hospital, how much physiotherapy, and what does the price include?
- Who will follow my knee after I return home, and can my own surgeon receive your records?
Hospitals with Orthopedics in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Knee makoplasty is robotic-arm assisted partial knee replacement using the Mako system. The robot helps the surgeon remove only the worn part of the knee and place an implant there, keeping the healthy parts and ligaments.
Partial knee replacement has good long-term results in suitable patients. Robotic assistance improves the accuracy of implant placement, but it is not yet proven to extend implant life, so benefit depends mainly on case selection.
Approximate ranges are €7,000 to €16,000 in Turkey, against about €9,000 to €18,000 in the UK. The price depends on the implant, partial or total replacement and the stay; the hospital confirms it in a written quote.
You stand on the day of surgery and leave hospital after two to four nights. Many people return to desk work in two to four weeks, drive after four to six and resume walking and swimming at about three months.
Anaesthesia and nerve blocks control pain during and just after surgery. Afterwards the knee is sore and swollen for several weeks, managed with painkillers, ice and physiotherapy, and most people find it milder than they feared.
Neither is right for everyone. Partial replacement keeps more of your own knee and recovers a little faster, but suits only arthritis in one compartment. Wider wear usually needs a total replacement.
Registry data show most partial implants lasting ten to fifteen years or more, but results vary with age, weight and activity. Some patients need a later revision or conversion to a total replacement.
Risks include infection, blood clots, stiffness, persistent pain and loosening of the implant. Arthritis can also progress in other parts of the knee, which may need further surgery.
There is no strict age limit. Suitability depends on arthritis confined to one compartment, stable ligaments and general health. Younger patients may be offered an osteotomy and older ones a total replacement.
About seven to ten days is usual: two to four nights in hospital, then nearby for wound and physiotherapy checks before the surgeon clears you to fly.
Patient stories