Total Knee Replacement in China
The operation, the recovery timeline, and the practical questions that decide whether travelling for it makes sense for you.
The operation, the recovery timeline, and the practical questions that decide whether travelling for it makes sense for you.
The worn surfaces of the knee — the end of the femur and the top of the tibia — are resurfaced with metal and polyethylene components. The aim is to reduce pain and restore alignment and function when the joint surface has been destroyed by osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis or previous trauma.
Weight-bearing X-rays, alignment assessment and a review of your general health.
Implant type and sizing, and whether the patella needs resurfacing.
Usually one to two hours under spinal anaesthesia with a nerve block for post-operative pain.
Range-of-motion exercises begin early; formal physiotherapy continues for weeks.
Knee replacement is judged less by the operation than by the rehabilitation. Achieving good flexion and a normal gait takes consistent daily work for six to twelve weeks. Patients who arrange physiotherapy in advance, and who understand that the knee will be swollen and stiff for a period, do better than those expecting a quick fix.
Typical hospital stay is three to five days. A stay of three to four weeks in the country allows supervised rehabilitation before the flight home, which most surgeons prefer for this operation. Flying soon after surgery carries clot risk, so the timing is a clinical decision.
Infection, blood clots, stiffness, persistent pain, nerve or vessel injury, and later loosening or wear requiring revision. Stiffness is the most common reason for a disappointing result, which is why rehabilitation matters as much as the surgery.
Send your X-rays and a short history. A medical assistant will arrange a surgeon review and a written quotation before you commit to travel.
Request a consultation About the hospitalOther orthopedic procedures at the same hospital.