Knee replacement
In a knee replacement, the worn surfaces of the knee joint are replaced with metal and plastic parts (an implant). It relieves pain and improves movement when arthritis has damaged the knee. A partial replacement is sometimes possible when only one side of the knee is worn. China's national bulk buying cut knee implant prices by more than 80% in 2022.
Who it may suit
- Adults with knee arthritis who have been advised to have a knee replacement
- People facing a long public wait at home, or high private-clinic prices
- Patients fit to fly long-haul and to stay in China for about 2 to 3 weeks
What happens
- We review your X-rays, specialist letters and health history with a Chinese orthopaedic surgeon
- On arrival: consultation, blood tests, heart check and X-rays
- Surgery under general or spinal anaesthesia, usually 1 to 2 hours; physiotherapy starts within a day or two
- About 1 to 2 weeks in hospital, then a check-up before you fly home
About 2 to 3 weeks in China.
Free in Canada's public system, but in 2024 about 4 in 10 knee patients waited longer than the 26-week target. Private clinics in Canada charge roughly C$25,000 to 35,000; one Toronto patient paid C$33,000 in 2025.
Two ways to have your operation: standard ward or international ward
In Chinese public hospitals the same surgeons usually operate on patients in both kinds of ward. The difference is comfort, language and service, not the quality of the surgery.
| Standard ward with our support | International / VIP ward | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Lowest. You pay the same government-set prices as a local patient, but without Chinese insurance | Usually considerably more. We obtain quotes for both options |
| Room | Usually shared with 2 to 6 patients; single rooms are scarce and cost extra | Private or semi-private room |
| Language | Staff rarely speak English. Our team interprets on ward rounds, for consent forms and at discharge | Some English-speaking staff and coordinators |
| Personal care | Nurses give medical care. Washing, toileting and meals are usually done by family or a hired care worker, which we arrange | More nursing help included |
| Food | Hospital canteen, mostly Chinese food. We can bring in Western-style meals | Wider menu choice |
| Paying | Cash deposit at admission, topped up during the stay, paid at hospital counters. We help you with every payment | Usually simpler billing, sometimes card payment |
| Admission | Some hospitals send all foreign patients to their international department; others accept them on standard wards. We confirm this for your case | Available at larger hospitals |
The standard ward is good value but very different from a Canadian hospital. Please choose it only if you are comfortable with a shared room and little English, knowing our team will be with you.
Indicative cost in China
C$4,000–8,500
one knee, standard ward: implant, operation, anaesthesia and hospital stay; international ward costs more
Estimate only. Prices are set by the hospital, not by us, and can change. We take no commission. You receive a written estimate from the hospital before you pay anything. How treatment prices work →
How it works
The surgeon removes the damaged surfaces of the thigh bone and shin bone and covers them with metal parts, with a plastic spacer between them so the joint can glide. The back of the kneecap may also be resurfaced. A partial knee replacement replaces only the worn side.
Why it costs less in China: since April 2022, China's national bulk-buying programme has set implant prices for public hospitals. The average knee implant price fell from about ¥32,000 to about ¥5,000. Operation fees are also set by government price lists. Chinese reports put the full bill at roughly ¥20,000 to 40,000, about C$4,000 to 8,500. A foreign patient pays these prices but gets no Chinese insurance refund.
Physiotherapy is the key to a good result after knee replacement. Hospital physiotherapists start exercises within a day or two, and you will need to continue them at home for several months. We give you the hospital's exercise plan in English so your physiotherapist at home can carry it on.
Potential advantages
- Much lower cost than a private clinic in Canada or the US
- Surgery usually scheduled within weeks once the surgeon accepts your case
- Experienced high-volume orthopaedic teams
- A choice between a low-cost standard ward and a more comfortable international ward
- Our team handles interpreting, payments and daily support
What to prepare for a specialist review
- Recent knee X-rays (images on disc or digital files, not only reports)
- Letter from your doctor or orthopaedic specialist, if you have one
- List of current medicines, especially blood thinners
- Details of heart, lung, diabetes or other medical conditions
- Previous knee operations or injections
- Recent blood tests if available
Questions to ask the treating team
- Will I have a total or a partial knee replacement, and why?
- Which implant will I receive, and who makes it?
- How many knee replacements does the surgeon do each year, and what is the infection rate?
- What physiotherapy will I get in hospital, and what should I do at home?
- When can I safely fly home, and what blood-clot prevention will I have?
Things to know. Knee replacement is major surgery. Risks include infection, blood clots, stiffness, ongoing pain and, rarely, nerve or blood-vessel injury. Recovery is often harder work than after a hip replacement, and daily exercises are essential for months. Long flights soon after surgery raise the risk of blood clots. Physiotherapy must continue at home, and you need a plan for follow-up and for any problem after you return. Provincial health plans usually do not pay for planned surgery abroad.
Why an introduction matters
Many of China’s leading specialists work in busy public hospitals without international patient offices. They rarely answer enquiries from abroad directly, and a file sent without an introduction often goes unread. Cases usually reach them through people they already know and trust. Our team on the ground makes that introduction, presents your case properly in Chinese, and follows up until you have an answer.
Related pages
Sources: China Daily: centralized procurement of artificial joints (2024) · CBC: Canadians paying for private surgery (2025) · NHS: Knee replacement
Last reviewed: 12 November 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice.
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