Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Görkem Kıyak
OrthopedicsVerified
- 21+years exp.
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Joint Replacement
Total arthroplasty
What total arthroplasty is, how a worn joint is replaced with a metal and plastic implant, which joints can be replaced, what registry data say about how long implants last, who is suited, approximate costs in Turkey against the UK, US and Germany, recovery stages, risks and how to check a hospital.
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What is total arthroplasty and how does it work?
Total arthroplasty means replacing an entire joint with an artificial one. "Arthroplasty" simply means reshaping or rebuilding a joint, and "total" means that both sides of the joint surface are replaced, as opposed to a partial replacement that renews only one side or one compartment. The surgeon removes the worn cartilage and a thin layer of damaged bone, shapes the bone ends and fixes metal components to them, with a smooth plastic (polyethylene) or ceramic bearing between. The joint then moves on the new surface instead of rubbing bone on bone.
The term covers several joints. The most common are the hip and the knee; shoulder, ankle, elbow and finger joints can also be replaced. This guide explains how the operation works, what the evidence says about how long implants last, who is suited, what total arthroplasty costs in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany, what recovery is like and how to check a hospital. For related surgery see our orthopedics treatments in Turkey.
Which joints can have a total arthroplasty?
Each joint has its own implant design and its own recovery. The questions a surgeon asks are similar, but the details differ.
- Hip: a ball-and-socket replacement, where the thigh-bone head and the pelvic socket are both renewed; see total hip replacement.
- Knee: metal caps on the thigh bone and shin bone with a plastic spacer, and sometimes a patella button; see total knee replacement.
- Shoulder: an anatomical or reverse design, chosen according to the rotator cuff; see shoulder replacement.
- Ankle, elbow and small joints: performed less often and mainly at specialist units.
Hips and knees account for most operations worldwide, and the largest long-term data come from those joints.
Does total arthroplasty work? What the evidence says
For hips and knees damaged by arthritis, the evidence is among the strongest in orthopaedics. Most people have a large reduction in pain and an improvement in walking and daily activity within three to six months. Joint registries, such as the National Joint Registry for England and Wales, show that most hip and knee replacements last 15 to 20 years or longer, with a proportion lasting beyond 25 years; knees tend to need revision slightly more often than hips. Shoulder replacement also gives reliable pain relief, though movement outcomes vary more.
It does not give a new joint in the sense of a young one. Plastic wears, bone can loosen, and a younger or heavier patient places more demand on the implant, so the operation is usually reserved for people whose pain and stiffness have not responded to medication, physiotherapy, injections and weight management. A trustworthy surgeon explains this and does not promise that the joint will last a lifetime.
Total arthroplasty cost in Turkey compared with the UK, US and Germany
The figures below are approximate ranges for one hip or knee, not hospital quotes. The final price depends on the joint, the implant brand and type, whether the operation is robotic-assisted, the length of the hospital stay and the package. Each hospital confirms its own price in a written quote.
| Country | Approximate cost range |
|---|---|
| Turkey | €6,000 – €16,000 |
| United Kingdom | €12,000 – €27,000 |
| United States | €25,000 – €60,000 |
| Germany | €12,000 – €28,000 |
What changes the price: the joint (a shoulder or ankle often costs more), cemented or cementless fixation, the bearing material, navigation or robotic assistance, a double-sided operation, complications that need a longer stay, and the number of physiotherapy sessions included. A package normally includes pre-operative tests, the operation and anaesthetist, hospital nights, the implant, early physiotherapy, medication, a walking aid and transfers. Ask for the implant brand and the list in writing.
Total arthroplasty or partial replacement: how do they compare?
Not every worn joint needs a total replacement. When only one part is damaged a smaller operation may keep more of your own joint, while some joints have other options before replacement is considered.
| Option | Suited to | Typical limits |
|---|---|---|
| Total arthroplasty | Advanced wear across the whole joint, with daily pain | Larger operation; implants wear over time |
| Partial replacement (for example knee resurfacing) | Wear confined to one compartment, with intact ligaments | Only suits selected patients; later conversion may be needed |
| Arthroscopy, injections, realignment | Earlier wear, mechanical problems or deformity | Does not rebuild a badly worn joint |
The right option depends on scans, your age, activity and goals. The wider range of joint operations is described under joint replacement.
Who is a good candidate for total arthroplasty, and who is not?
You may be suited if you have X-ray evidence of advanced arthritis, pain that wakes you at night or limits walking, stairs and everyday tasks, and a poor response to non-surgical treatment. Most people are over 55, but younger people with severe damage from injury or inflammatory disease are also treated. The surgeon will check heart, lungs, kidneys, blood sugar, bone quality and any infection risk before agreeing to operate.
It is less suited if there is an active infection, if poor circulation or skin problems threaten wound healing, if the pain comes from the spine or another source rather than the joint, or if you are not able to follow the rehabilitation plan. Very high body weight, uncontrolled diabetes and smoking increase complications and may mean waiting until they are controlled.
How is a total arthroplasty done, step by step?
- Assessment: examination, X-rays, sometimes a CT or MRI, blood tests and an anaesthetic review.
- Anaesthesia: spinal anaesthesia with sedation or general anaesthesia, with a nerve block for pain relief afterwards.
- Preparing the joint: the surgeon opens the joint, removes worn cartilage and a thin layer of bone and shapes the ends with guides or a robotic arm.
- Fitting: trial components are tested for fit and movement, then the final implants are fixed with cement or pressed in so that bone grows onto them.
- Closure: the wound is closed, sometimes with a drain, and the joint is dressed.
The operation takes about one to two hours. You usually stand with help on the same day or the next morning.
Total arthroplasty recovery: what to expect week by week
| Period | What usually happens |
|---|---|
| Days 1–3 | Hospital stay; first steps with a frame or crutches; blood-clot prevention and pain control |
| Weeks 1–2 | Wound care; daily exercises; swelling and bruising; walking aids |
| Weeks 2–6 | Walking further, stitches or clips out, sometimes a return to desk work; physiotherapy |
| Weeks 6–12 | Driving again once safe, increasing strength; many people walk without aids |
| Months 3–12 | Swelling settles; return to low-impact sport; full benefit often at 6–12 months |
Most patients stay in Turkey for about seven to ten days: three to five nights in hospital, then early physiotherapy and a check before flying. Short flights are normally allowed once the surgeon agrees, and blood-clot prevention matters on the way home. Ask the surgeon about stockings, tablets or injections for the trip. Continue physiotherapy at home with a plan the surgeon provides.
Total arthroplasty before and after: what are realistic results?
The visible "before and after" is an X-ray: a worn, narrowed joint before, and a metal-and-plastic joint after, with a scar of about 10 to 20 cm. What matters more is function. Most people can walk further, climb stairs and sleep without night pain; many return to swimming, cycling, golf and gardening. High-impact sport and heavy lifting are usually discouraged. Results come gradually, and some stiffness or a feeling that the joint is "different" is common in the first months. Be wary of promises of a "normal" joint.
What are the risks and complications of total arthroplasty?
All major surgery carries risk. The NHS lists the main ones as infection, blood clots, joint stiffness, loosening or wear of the implant over time, dislocation (hip and shoulder), nerve or blood-vessel injury, and anaesthetic problems; some patients need a second operation called revision, as described in our guides to revision hip replacement and revision knee replacement. Surgeons reduce risk with antibiotics, early movement, clot prevention and careful patient selection. Ask who treats you if a problem appears after you return home, and how revision is handled.
How to choose a surgeon and hospital, and red flags
Check that the surgeon is an orthopaedic specialist who does many joint replacements, that the hospital has operating theatres with laminar-flow or equivalent infection controls, an anaesthetist, intensive-care cover and physiotherapy, and that you receive a written plan, implant name and price before paying a deposit. Red flags include a quote without X-rays, an unnamed implant, promises of a lifetime joint, no physiotherapy plan and pressure to book quickly. Read how our process works and ask for a plan through our free quote page.
Questions to ask the clinic
- Which joint and which implant do you recommend, and why?
- How many of these operations do you perform each year?
- How many nights in hospital and in Turkey are included?
- Is physiotherapy and clot prevention for the flight included?
- Who handles complications after I return home?
Hospitals with Orthopedics in Turkey
Frequently asked questions
Total arthroplasty is the surgical replacement of a whole joint, such as the hip, knee or shoulder, with an artificial one made of metal and plastic or ceramic. It is used when arthritis or injury has worn the joint and other treatments no longer help.
For worn hips and knees it is one of the most thoroughly studied operations in orthopaedics, with a large reduction in pain and easier walking for most people. Results are less predictable in the shoulder and in people with other health problems.
Approximate ranges are €6,000 to €16,000 in Turkey and about €12,000 to €27,000 in the UK for one hip or knee. The price depends on the joint, implant, robotic assistance and hospital stay; each hospital confirms it in writing.
The main difference shows on X-ray: a narrowed, worn joint before and a metal-and-plastic joint after. The scar is typically 10 to 20 cm, and the real change is less pain and easier walking over several months.
Most people walk with aids for two to six weeks, return to desk work after four to six weeks and drive after about six weeks. The final benefit often develops over six to twelve months of physiotherapy.
Pain is controlled with nerve blocks and medication in hospital, and most people find the first days uncomfortable but manageable. Pain usually falls steadily over the first weeks, and exercises help rather than harm the joint.
Registry data show most hip and knee replacements last 15 to 20 years or more, though this varies with age, weight, activity and implant type. Some people eventually need a second operation called revision surgery.
It is performed by orthopaedic specialists in licensed hospitals. As with any major surgery, risks include infection, clots and implant problems, so check the surgeon's volume, the implant name and the aftercare before you travel.
Neither is right for everyone. A partial replacement suits wear in one part of the joint with healthy ligaments, while a total replacement suits wear across the whole joint. A surgeon should explain the choice using your scans.
Most patients stay about seven to ten days: three to five nights in hospital, then physiotherapy and a wound check before the flight. Ask the surgeon about blood-clot prevention for the journey home, and about the physiotherapy plan to follow once you are back.
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