Hip and knee replacementsurgical options and planning care in China
Compare when total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement are considered. Learn about joint surgery teams in China, records to prepare, recovery and return travel.
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Which hip and knee conditions warrant an assessment for joint replacement?
If hip or knee osteoarthritis severely limits walking, sleep or daily activity and nonsurgical treatment has provided too little relief, a joint surgeon can assess whether replacement is an option. The doctor will consider symptoms, functional limitations and imaging to see whether the extent of joint damage explains your pain and compare joint-preserving options with replacement.
- Knee. Imaging and a physical examination can show whether the damage affects one or several knee compartments. Ligament stability, alignment and range of motion also help determine whether partial or total knee replacement is suitable.
- Hip. Advanced osteoarthritis, osteonecrosis of the femoral head and joint damage due to hip dysplasia can all warrant an assessment for replacement. The cause, bone shape and bone mass affect surgical planning.
- Knee wear, comparing total and partial replacementCompare affected compartments, ligament stability and extent of surgery.
- Hip pain with a recommendation for total hip replacementConfirm implant fixation, surgical approach and pricing.
- Already have a surgical opinion and are planning a trip to ChinaPlan discharge, local rehabilitation and return travel separately.
Do I need joint replacement? What other options do I have?
Cartilage helps a joint move smoothly. Osteoarthritis can affect cartilage and other joint tissues, causing pain, stiffness and limited function. Your doctor will consider your pain, movement and imaging to explain where the problem lies.
“I’ve already tried these treatments. Why consider joint replacement now? What other options do I have, and what would happen if I waited?”
What can nonsurgical treatment help me do?
Exercise and rehabilitation
Physical therapy can address strength in the muscles around the hip or those that straighten the knee, range of motion and how you walk. At follow-up, compare walking distance, stair climbing or the ability to stand up.
Pain and daily activity
Pain treatment can make daily activities and exercise easier. Your doctor will consider the cause of your pain, other health conditions and medications you have already tried.
Canes and walking aids
With guidance on proper use, a cane or walker can make walking easier. Which aid to use and how to use it depend on your balance, strength and which side is affected.
If pain has returned after joint replacement or you have osteonecrosis of the femoral head and want to know whether your own hip can be preserved, see our guide to hip preservation and revision assessment.
How do total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement differ?
Total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement describe which damaged parts are replaced. The direct anterior approach (DAA) and robotic assistance describe how the operation is performed. These distinctions can help you understand why your doctor recommends a particular option.
| Procedure or technique | What it does | What to ask your doctor |
|---|---|---|
| Total knee replacement | Replaces the damaged surfaces of the knee joint. | Ask your doctor to point out the affected surfaces on your images, explain why total knee replacement is recommended and describe which activities might improve. |
| Unicompartmental (partial) knee replacement | Treats the damaged surfaces in one part of the knee. | Ask whether the damage is limited to one compartment and your ligaments are suitable. Discuss the possibility of conversion to total knee replacement or further surgery later. |
| Total hip replacement | There are several types of hip replacement surgery. Total hip replacement replaces both the damaged femoral head (ball) and the joint surface of the acetabulum (socket). | Ask whether the joint damage explains your pain. Discuss how the implant will be fixed in place, which materials will be used, the risk of dislocation and activity instructions after surgery. |
| Surgical approaches, including DAA | DAA stands for direct anterior approach. The surgeon reaches the hip joint from the front. | Ask why this approach suits your anatomy and operation, what recovery would involve and what risks to expect. |
| Robot-assisted joint replacement | Technology that helps the surgeon plan or perform the procedure. | Ask how it would help in your case, how it affects the cost and how much experience the team has with it. |
What are the risks of hip and knee replacement?
Along with expected improvements, ask about risks such as infection and blood clots before deciding. For hip replacement, ask about dislocation as well. Your doctor can explain which risks matter most in your case and how the hospital prevents and manages them.
Hip and knee replacement hospitals and care coordination in China
Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine
Comprehensive hospitalCore StrengthsOrthopedics (trauma and replantation of amputated limbs), Endocrinology and metabolism (diabetic foot), Otolaryngology
Beijing Jishuitan Hospital
Comprehensive hospitalCore StrengthsOrthopedics (trauma, hand, spine, and joint surgery; nationally leading), Burn care (mass burn incidents)
What can SinoCareHub help with?
- Organizing and translating medical records so the hospital understands your questions.
- Contacting relevant departments and doctors based on your diagnosis and treatment goals.
- Coordinating video consultations, appointments, invitation documents and in-person medical interpreting, depending on the services you select.
- Discussing documentation, follow-up and continuity of care after you return home. Confirm what will be provided in writing first.
What does the hospital decide?
- Diagnosis, testing, whether to operate and which implant to use.
- Individual risks and recommendations for admission, discharge and return travel.
- Whether the hospital can take your case, the schedule and the hospital’s quote.
How long should I stay in China for joint replacement, and how do I plan recovery and travel home?
Separate time away from home from recovery time
Hip and knee replacement | Plan the hospital stay and the full trip separately
To plan your stay in China, ask the treating team to confirm the expected days in hospital, local follow-up after discharge and when you may be fit to fly home.
What should you confirm before travelling?
- When can I reach the hospital?
- Who gets the records, are more documents needed, and who will follow up?
- When might I have an appointment or be admitted?
- Confirm outpatient visits and inpatient admission separately. Ask what preoperative tests are needed and what determines the schedule.
- How long should a family member stay with me?
- Discuss companions and accommodation based on the hospital stay, mobility after discharge and how you will receive care.
How soon can I fly after hip replacement?
Confirm your care plan before booking flights or deciding how long to stay
Tell us where you will travel from, your flight duration and how long you can stay. We can help ask the care team about postoperative care, follow-up and conditions for traveling home. Long flights carry a risk of blood clots after surgery. The UK’s Royal Orthopaedic Hospital recommends waiting 3 months after hip or knee replacement before a journey of more than 4 hours. Discuss what is appropriate for you with your treating team before booking your return trip.
Connect your trip to rehabilitation back home
Planning your hip or knee replacement trip: hospital stay, care and costs
Before departure, confirm hospital arrangements and costs
Organize your diagnosis, imaging, medications and past surgery records. Ask the hospital to confirm the plan, implant, expected hospital stay and any further tests. Include family, language and accessibility needs in accommodation and transport plans.
From admission to discharge, prepare for leaving while receiving treatment
The hospital reviews your tests and arranges treatment. Before discharge, obtain medication and rehabilitation instructions, wound check details, a contact for unexpected problems and your surgery and implant records.
After discharge in China, plan follow-up, rehabilitation and care
Arrange clinic visits, rehabilitation and help with daily activities according to your medical team’s instructions. Check that lifts, bathing facilities and transport suit your current mobility. Confirm who will accompany you.
During and after your trip home, hand over follow-up to your next doctor
Discuss flight duration and fitness to travel with the treating team before booking. Share your discharge summary, implant details, rehabilitation plan and follow-up instructions with a local provider. Ask about remote contact with the team in China, the language they use and any charges.
Rehabilitation and handover after hip or knee replacement
Medical society guidance divides knee replacement rehabilitation into weeks 0–2, 3–6 and 7–12.
The 0–12 week framework comes from educational material on knee replacement rehabilitation. It does not apply directly to total hip replacement, revision or bilateral surgery, and it does not mean recovery is complete by week 12. Plan the actual hospital stay, total time in China and return trip separately.
Before discharge, confirm that you can take your discharge summary, surgical record and implant card. Ask the hospital to write down the manufacturer, model and side replaced. Share activity limits, rehabilitation goals, follow-up dates and contact details with the team taking over at home. Ask about document language and collection in advance if needed.
Read the guide to orthopedic rehabilitation and follow-up at home →
What records and imaging should I prepare before going to China for joint replacement?
How should I organize X-rays, MRI or CT scans I already have?
Sort your tests by date and separate the reports from the image files. The report is the doctor’s written interpretation. The images are the pictures from the test. Tell us which you have at your consultation.
Existing X-rays
Gather reports and images and note the date, the left or right side and the body parts examined.
Existing MRI or CT scans
Keep the reports and original digital images. Ask the facility that performed the test how to export the files. The treating hospital will explain how to send them.
Only printed films or phone photos
Let us know what you have and make sure the text is legible and the material complete where possible. We can help find out what else the hospital needs.
Expand the imaging and records checklist
- Organize your existing X-rays, MRI or CT images and reports by date. The receiving hospital decides whether you need weight-bearing X-rays or additional tests.
- Diagnosis summary, changes in pain and function, treatments you have tried and how well they worked.
- Current medications, allergies and conditions such as diabetes or heart problems. Do not stop or change medications on your own.
- Surgical records and implant details if you have had an operation and those records are available.
SinoCareHub service prices
Common questions about hip and knee replacement
How do I arrange language support and English documents?
Tell us which languages you and your family use, and which documents you need for follow-up or insurance claims at home. We can communicate your interpreting needs for consultations and admission, and itemize the scope and fees for original hospital records and translations before services begin.
Can I have both knees or both hips replaced in one trip?
Bring up both sides at the first consultation and explain why you want to make one trip. Ask the surgical team to compare suitability, risks, care and length of stay for same-session and staged procedures, then decide together.
Who do I pay, and do I have to buy services after the free consultation?
The initial consultation is free. Use it to learn about your options and what to prepare. If you go ahead, we explain the fees for the coordination services you choose. Hospital charges and third-party expenses such as travel are listed separately. Before paying, check the payee, what is included, receipts and cancellation terms.
What support should I arrange if I travel to China alone for joint replacement?
Tell us during the consultation that you are traveling alone, whether your accommodation has a lift, how well you manage daily activities and what language support you need. We can help list companion support, transport, accommodation and post-discharge care needs and ask the hospital which need to be arranged in advance.