Conditions like osteoarthritis, which often come with age, are in many ways a natural part of life’s cycle. Across the world, countless people live with the pain caused by this natural progression. Over time, the pain can become unmanageable, interfering with everyday life.

Wendy Mitchell, a 66-year-old from the United States with a passion for travel, was one of them. Her knee pain grew so severe that she could no longer enjoy bike rides or travel with her husband. As the discomfort worsened, so did its impact on her quality of life. Determined to find a solution, she explored her options but could not find suitable choices in her home country.

That’s when Wendy started looking beyond her borders. Her search eventually led her to Turan & Turan Health Group in Türkiye. After undergoing robotic knee replacement surgery, she was finally able to return to the active lifestyle she loved — traveling freely, without the pain that had once held her back.

To witness her journey, explore robotic knee replacement surgery reviews from patients like her, and address any questions you may have, keep reading our article and watch Wendy’s robotic knee replacement surgery video.

Don’t Let Knee Pain Stand in the Way of Your Dreams

Wendy’s pain had been present for years, becoming significant in the last year. This pain prevented her from engaging in activities she enjoyed, such as riding a bike, which she hadn’t been able to do for over a year.

• Quote: “Right now, with my knee problems, I can’t do a lot of what I like to do and would love to be doing here in Europe. I do like riding a bike. I haven’t been able to ride a bike for, I would say, over a year, and that really affects my quality of life and how much I’m enjoying my life.”

Hoping to find relief, Wendy tried to schedule an appointment with a specialist in her home country. However, the earliest available appointment was six months away.

The projected months-long delay directly influenced her decision to seek surgery in Turkey, even to get a consultation appointment for her worsening knee pain in her home state.

• Quote: “As my knee got worse and worse, I called a doctor in my home state to see what the timeline was, and I was told that the consultation appointment, his first consultation appointment available, was in May. So, I would wait until May just to get the consultation, and then it’s a matter of seeing the doctor after that and then a matter of scheduling the surgery after that, so it goes for months and months and months for most people.”

Unwilling to endure a long wait while experiencing symptoms like knee pain, Wendy took control of her health. She searched online for “the best surgeons in Europe”. Her search led her to Dr. Kayhan Turan, and she filled out the contact form on the website.

• Quote: “So the internet is what led me to Turkey.”

Unlike her previous experience, she received a same-day response in her native language, and all the necessary arrangements for an appointment were made quickly.

The surgeon’s experience performing knee replacement surgery is an essential factor influencing the success of the treatment. While “the best” is subjective, factors like the number of procedures performed and patient feedback offer valuable insights into a surgeon’s expertise. Dr. Kayhan Turan, having performed over 4500 robotic knee replacements and being the first surgeon to conduct robotic total knee replacement surgery in Türkiye (2016), earned Wendy’s trust.

When Wendy arrived for her appointment, she was amazed at the efficiency of the medical process. All necessary tests and examinations were completed within just three and a half hours. This swift pace allowed her to undergo knee replacement surgery abroad before her condition worsened. She described her amazement with the process, a testament to the speed and efficiency of the medical system:

• Quote: “I was just shocked that it went from one person to another, including the surgeon, the X-ray, the MRI, everything was done at that same time. We were at the hospital about three and a half hours. In the US, each one of those would have taken an appointment.”

Robotic Knee Replacement Surgery: A Path to Recovery with Less Pain

Wendy chose to undergo her robotic knee replacement surgery in Turkey. She had previously undergone regular knee replacement surgery five years ago, but shared that the recovery was far more painful. The difference lies in the precision of robotic technology: robotic knee replacement utilizes precise calculations that allow for smaller incisions compared to manual methods. Consequently, patients typically experience less pain during recovery.

The robotic knee replacement surgery performed on Wendy involves a computer-assisted system guided by the surgeon. Every individual’s knee anatomy is as unique as their fingerprints, making it essential to tailor the placement of each knee implant specifically to the person. This customization ensures the best possible fit and function for each patient’s unique structure.

A personalized surgical plan is created for each patient and followed precisely to achieve the best possible outcome.

Even the most skilled and experienced surgeons face limitations when it comes to making such precise adjustments with manual surgical techniques. The tools used in manual surgeries don’t allow for the same level of accuracy. As a result, placing the implant with the same level of precision for every patient is not always possible.

In contrast, robotic assisted knee replacement surgery integrates 3D imaging with robotic arms to ensure the implant aligns perfectly with the patient’s anatomy. It’s important to clarify that the robot does not operate independently; instead, it guides the surgeon’s movements with millimeter precision, serving as a safeguard against potential human errors.

After knee replacement surgery, Wendy said she was looking forward to resuming her travels across Europe as soon as her doctor gave her permission. And it didn’t take long for her dream to come true. She shared her satisfaction with the quality of care and recovery:

• Quote: “The quality of care I’ve gotten here has been much better. People are very attentive to my needs and have taken very good care of me, which I think has helped my mental state, which is helping my physical state as well.”

Medical Journey to Turkey: Why Turkey?

Wendy Mitchell’s experience with seeking and receiving robot knee replacement surgery in Turkey contrasts significantly with the lengthy and complex healthcare process she encountered in the United States.

Here’s how her experience in Turkey differed:

• Timeline for Initial Consultation: In the United States, after her knee pain worsened, Wendy contacted a doctor in her home state and was told the first available consultation appointment was in May, implying a waiting period of months. In contrast, after finding Dr. Kayhan Turan online and submitting a form, she was contacted later the same day, and an appointment was set up within a couple of days.

This comparison also extends to the cost aspect, where Wendy found the procedure in Turkey to be more affordable despite the high quality of care.

• Consolidated Appointments vs. Multiple Visits: Wendy notes that in the U.S., each step, such as seeing the surgeon, getting an X-ray, and having an MRI, typically requires separate appointments. In contrast, she experienced a highly efficient process in Turkey, where the consultation with the surgeon, X-ray, and MRI were all completed during a single visit to the hospital, lasting approximately three and a half hours.

Despite being in a foreign country, Wendy found that the hospital staff in Turkey were proficient in English, which significantly eased the communication process.

• Perceived Quality of Care and Pain Management: Wendy explicitly states that the quality of care she received in Turkey was “much, much better” than her previous experience. She also compares the level of knee pain after knee replacement surgery in Turkey to an earlier regular knee replacement she had five years ago, stating that she was in “significantly more pain” during the earlier procedure. This positive experience showcases one of the significant benefits of robotic knee replacement surgery.

She found the staff in Turkey to be “very attentive” to her needs, which she felt positively impacted her mental and physical state, making her feel more comfortable and cared for.

• Decision for Future Procedures: The positive experience in Turkey has led Wendy and her husband to decide they will return to Turkey for future back surgery, for which doctors there confirmed she is a candidate. This decision to return for subsequent care is a testament to the pathway and quality of care experienced in Turkey, convincing them that it is the best option for their future medical needs.

Wendy’s experience in Turkey provided a significantly faster pathway to consultation and diagnosis, consolidating multiple steps into a single appointment. It involved a quality of care that she perceived as superior to her previous experiences, leading her to plan future procedures there.

If you recognize your own symptoms in Wendy’s knee replacement surgery video and are wondering whether robotic knee replacement surgery in Turkey might be the right solution for you, feel free to contact us to learn more.