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Total Knee Replacement (TKR) in Bangkok

Last updated: September 2026

Reviewed for medical accuracy by Dr Ye Aung, Specialist Assistant Physician, Gastroenterology Department, Yangon General Hospital. Last reviewed September 2026.

What a total knee replacement is

A total knee replacement removes the damaged surfaces of the knee joint and replaces them with an artificial implant, so the joint moves on smooth artificial surfaces instead of worn cartilage and bone. It is the standard operation for end-stage knee osteoarthritis and one of the most studied procedures in surgery: national registries have tracked millions of them for decades.

That evidence base is why honest answers exist for the questions that matter. Pooled registry data published in The Lancet in 2019, covering roughly 300,000 total knee replacements, found around 82% still in place at 25 years. "Still in place" means not revised; it is not a personal guarantee for any one patient.

A partial (unicompartmental) replacement, which resurfaces only the damaged compartment, is an alternative for some patients. Around 70% of partial replacements were still in place at 25 years in the same analysis. Your surgeon decides between them from your imaging.

Who it suits, and who it does not

The typical candidate has end-stage osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis or post-traumatic damage, has already tried physiotherapy, medication, weight management or injections, and still has pain that limits daily life. NICE guidance (NG157, 2020) frames joint replacement as a shared decision made with full information on the options, and that is how the assessment here works too.

This is not the right operation for everyone. If your arthritis is not yet end-stage, if non-surgical treatment has not been properly tried, or if other health conditions make surgery riskier than the pain justifies, the honest advice may be to wait or to manage without surgery. Knee replacement is generally the treatment once non-surgical management has failed, not a first step. If that is your situation, we will say so at assessment.

The packages, side by side

Two partner hospitals offer a standard (non-robotic) total knee replacement package. Both include the implant.

Standard total knee replacement packages in Bangkok
Hospital Procedure Price (THB) Approx. AUD Approx. GBP Approx. USD Implant
KDMS Hospital Total knee replacement (TKR) 283,000 11,320 5,660 8,490 Included
Phyathai 2 Hospital Total knee replacement (TKR) 330,000 13,200 6,600 9,900 Included

Prices last verified: September 2026. Approximate conversions at September 2026 rates. Your bank's rate on the day will differ.

Want the figure for your own case? A written quote confirms the price, inclusions and exclusions before you commit to anything.

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KDMS Hospital publishes its package contents: a standard inpatient room for 5 days and 4 nights for one knee, nursing services, hospital services, meals and medical equipment charges used for patient care, with Stryker implant components from the United States. It is Thailand's first hospital dedicated exclusively to bone and joint conditions.

Phyathai 2 Hospital, JCI-accredited since 2014, does not publish its package contents; your written quote states the inpatient stay and inclusions. Package contents vary by hospital and are confirmed in writing before you pay anything.

Package prices assume a straightforward case. KDMS states that patients classed ASA III or above, or whose surgery is more complex or longer than standard operating time, fall outside package pricing; assume the same principle at any hospital. Flights, accommodation after discharge, outpatient physiotherapy and treatment of complications are not included. The cost page lists every exclusion.

Implant options

KDMS publishes that its packages use Stryker implant components from the United States. The other hospitals confirm the implant in your written quote. Ask for the brand and model in writing: registry survivorship data is published per implant, so knowing the model means you can look up how it has performed.

Hospital stay and recovery

Walking training begins the day after surgery, and in-hospital physiotherapy continues through your stay. After discharge you stay near the hospital for outpatient physiotherapy and wound checks until your surgeon clears you to fly. That timing is set by your surgeon, not by the package.

The NHS recovery guidance is the honest baseline: stitches or clips out at about 10 days, crutches or sticks at first with unaided walking from around six weeks if you are ready, at least six weeks before driving, and full recovery taking several months or longer. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons advises continuing prescribed physiotherapy exercises for at least two months.

Risks

Periprosthetic joint infection after a primary total knee replacement is generally estimated at between 1% and 2%, per a 2025 meta-analysis. Other risks include blood clots, stiffness and implant loosening over time. The US registry puts the 10-year revision rate for cemented total knees at about 2.13%, roughly one in fifty.

What your package covers if something goes wrong is set out in the package terms, not the headline price. Get the answers in writing before paying; the complete guide lists the three questions to ask.

FAQ

How much does a total knee replacement cost in Thailand?

Package prices at our partner hospitals in Bangkok start at 283,000 THB (approx. AUD 11,320, GBP 5,660, USD 8,490) for a standard total knee replacement, rising to 647,000 THB for robotic-assisted surgery. Conversions are approximate at September 2026 rates. Your written quote states the final figure before you commit to anything.

Partial or total knee replacement?

It depends on how much of the joint is damaged. A partial replacement resurfaces only the affected compartment. Registry data puts around 70% of partial knee replacements still in place at 25 years, against around 82% for total replacements. Your surgeon decides which is appropriate from your imaging.

How many nights will I be in hospital?

At KDMS, the published knee package covers five days and four nights in a standard inpatient room for one knee, or six days and five nights for both. Phyathai 2 and Bumrungrad do not publish their inpatient stay, so your written quote will state it. Nights beyond the package are billed separately.

How long does a knee replacement last?

Pooled national registry data published in The Lancet in 2019, covering roughly 300,000 total knee replacements, found that around 82% were still in place at 25 years. For partial knee replacements the figure was around 70%. Still in place means the implant had not been revised; it is not a personal probability for any individual patient.

Am I a candidate?

That is decided by assessment, not by a website. Send recent X-rays and your medical history and the orthopaedic team will tell you. Factors that affect the answer include the stage of joint damage, what non-surgical treatment you have already tried, and other medical conditions that affect surgical risk.

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Get a written quote for total knee replacement

  1. Send your details and, if you have them, recent knee X-rays and a summary of your medical history.
  2. The orthopaedic team assesses your case and tells you honestly whether surgery is the right call.
  3. You receive a written quote with the inclusions and exclusions stated.

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