Total hip replacement abroad: Lithuania

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Price in EUR
Testimonials
Karen, Alberta, Canada
Karen, Alberta, Canada
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Th clinic looked almost too good to be true but everything they claim is accurate. The care I received from the physician and nursing staff was very caring and excellent. Also there is the option for aftercare at a rehab facility that I highly recommend. It gives you time to recover from the surgery before the long flight home. The customer service representative Jurate is very efficient and will promptly answer any questions you have. Canada may seem like a long way from Lithuania but I feel it was totally worth the trip and I am planning to go back and have the other hip replaced.
Marietta Pietruch - Vorkampff, Alberta, Canada
Marietta Pietruch - Vorkampff, Alberta, Canada
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From the moment I was met at the airport in Vilnius I was sure I was in good hands. Instead of waiting years in Canada to have hip replacement surgery, i made the difficult decision to travel on my own to Lithuania. Now, one month after surgery i am so glad I did it. Nord took care of every detail so well, then I spent 17 days at UPA where I recovered well for the long trip home. Most importantly, my pain is GONE! Thank you Nord!
Silvia, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
Silvia, Alberta, Alberta, Canada
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Nordorthopaedic clinic was instrumental in setting up covid tests for us as soon as we arrived. We were picked up at the airport, taken to the clinic for tests and xrays and taken to the clinic for surgery. Professor Sarunas Tarasevicius made me feel very comfortable and at ease prior to going for surgery. He is a very personable and approachable man. - I woke up - I had a new hip! Two days later my husband and I were driven to UPA Therapy clinic. After 12 days there with 5 sessions per day of therapy we were back to Western Canada. Nordorthopaedic clinic was absolutely amazing in organizing everything! I want to extend my deepest gratitude to all people involved.
Brian, Alberta, Canada
Brian, Alberta, Canada
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Every Canadian is proud of our socialized medical system but the system has its issues, especially in the are of joint replacement. I was 58 years old and needed a hip replacement. It would be up to two years of waiting till I would get surgery. Then there was Lithuania, in the top rating for cleanliness in all of the EU. No item so small was ignored and every question no matter was answered in a timely fashion. Meeting Professor Tarasevicius set me and my wife at ease. The procedure was completed with no complications. The nursing staff was top notch. The staff at the UPA spa again saw to our each and every need. If you are in need of joint replacement, I recommend without reservation the Nordorthopaedics facility.
Leslie Elliott, Oman & Alberta, Canada
Leslie Elliott, Oman & Alberta, Canada
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I’ve known for a long time that both of my knees need to be replaced. As a non-resident Canadian living in the Middle East I am not eligible for the provincial Alberta Health Care program in Canada. As I researched various countries in the EU the Nordorthopaedic Clinic in Lithuania kept coming up. It was wonderful that the doctors, nurses and other staff at the clinic were all so very caring and professional. Three days post-op I transferred to the rehabilitation centre for a week. I am now three weeks post-op and consider my surgery to be a complete success. Possibly the best testimonial I can provide is to let people know that I will be booking my second complete knee replacement with Nordorthopaedic for mid-April 2018.
Ron, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Ron, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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I was a long distance runne diagnosed with Osteoarthritis. I continued to run moderate and then shorter distances up to about 3 years ago when I could no longer run, hike or walk a golf course without pain. We found Nordorthopaedics to be the most attractive option as the clinic is certified by the UK NHS; the surgeon’s resumes are impressive. None of the other options for surgery offered a stay at a recovery center. The focus on recovery and attention by the centre’s staff was extremely beneficial to my recovery and I would unquestionably recommend it to anyone recovering from orthopedic surgery. In the end we were not disappointed and the care, attention, responsiveness and professionalism of staff at Nordorthopaedics and Spa exceeded our expectations.
James Reed, Canada, British Columbia
James Reed, Canada, British Columbia
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I had grade 4 arthritis in my hip which made walking excruciating. Knowing that I could not wait that long until surgery in Canada, I began to explore my options overseas. Once arriving in Vilinus, my accommodations and transportation was waiting for me. I met my surgeon and I was operated on shortly thereafter. The next 10 days I spent in the clinic's recovery spa, which was also well-run and very professional. During my stay at the spa, I met fellow patients from the British common-wealth, with similar medical issues and treatment as myself. I am fully recovered and walking better than I have for a long time. I would recommend anyone interested in accessing this clinic, to do so. The clinic and their staff live true to their statements as posted on their website.
Max Johnson, Canada, Manitoba
Max Johnson, Canada, Manitoba
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Max Johnson - the Winnipeg travel consultant flew to Nordorthopaedics to have left knee-replacement surgery because of the elective surgery backlog in Manitoba. He said reading the testimonials of people who previously had knee-replacement procedures done on the clinic's site, which was a de facto patient support group on Facebook, "really made me feel pretty confident." He scheduled the surgery for three months later and said he was shocked by the efficiency of the Lithuanian clinic.
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Reviews & Facebook group​
Our patients and clinic in the media
Hip replacement case analysis
Our patients in the media
Only we can offer:
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joint replacement surgeries performed

One of the most experienced orthopaedic surgeons in Europe. More than 3.500 joint replacement surgeries were performed by our surgeon to this date – a figure that no other surgeon or clinic in the region can match.

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scientific articles

More than 150 scientific articles co-authored by our surgeon and over 50 publications in different medical journals. You can read the most recent one here.

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reviews

More than 188 positive reviews from our happy clients from all over the world. Accept the challenge and read them all here!

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waiting years saved

Patients saved this number of years by travelling to our clinic instead of waiting for surgery at home country.  

Nordorthopaedics Center Of Excellence
One of the world’s leading medical technology companies and orthopaedic implant manufacturers, Smith & Nephew, have chosen Nordorthopaedics as its exclusive partner in the Baltic States and the clinic is now a Center of Excellence for this company in the region. 
 
Flights to Lithuania
from Calgary
from Calgary+ 2 stops in 20 h 00 min
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Calgary International Airport
from Edmonton
from Edmonton+ 2 stops in 15 h 50 min
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Edmonton International Airport
from Toronto
from Toronto+ 1 stop in 10 h 50 min
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Toronto Pearson International Airport
from Montreal
from Montreal+ 1 stop in 15 h 15 min
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Montréal-Trudeau International Airport
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Experienced hip and knee surgeon
  • More than 15+ years of  working experience
  • Over 3.500 joint replacement surgeries performed
  • Fluent in English
  • President of Lithuanian Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology
  • Training abroad: Sweden, Switzerland, Germany, Austria
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Rehabilitation packages

One of the most important factors for a quick and full recovery after surgery is proper rehabilitation. Rehabilitation helps recover after surgery as well as prevents formation of blood clots and helps avoid most of the postoperative complications and side effects. We offer two different rehabilitation packages:

Our clinic
What sets us apart from other clinics?

Our clinic works with highly professional and educated surgeons. They have 10-20 years of experience in the field of orthopaedic surgery. They each perform 500 surgeries per year. Moreover, our surgeons are members of various prestigious surgical societies both Lithuanian and international. Our joint replacement surgeon S. Tarasevicius is an author of 150 scientific publications in different medical journals. Find more information about our surgeons here.

The clinic is equipped with modern diagnostic and surgical facilities, all analogous to those in Western European clinics. You will be looked after by professional English speaking staff. The wards are fully furnished and equipped with TV, WC and air conditioning. Free Wi-Fi is available while staying in the clinic. 
Our clinic is one of the biggest surgical centres in the Baltic region. We work with patients from various countries, among which the United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway, Sweden, Spain, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Canada etc. 
 
Despite the size of the clinic we provide our patients with personal care and assistance. The majority of big public hospitals due to high volume of patients do not have enough resources and medical personnel to pay personal attention to each patient. Whereas we are fully focused on providing exceptional care and undivided attention for our patients.
 
Without any additional fees patients are tended in the clinic as long as they need. It may take up to 3 days. We only discharge our patients from the clinic when they are in a good health state and ready to leave.
All inclusive price, which is twice lower than in Western European clinics.
 
Our clinic works with medical professionals of highest education and experience level and uses the same materials as the clinics in Western Europe.  More often than not, the quality of our clinic‘s facilities exceed the ones in Western European clinics. The price difference is only due to considerably lower average salaries and taxes – which is the main reason for medical travel everywhere around the world.

Our clinic works according to the highest standards set by the European Union. This helps to guarantee the quality of medical service. 

During your entire stay in Lithuania you will receive personal care as well as transport to and from the clinic, hotel, and airport. You will not have to worry about a thing. You will be assisted from the moment of plane landing in Vilnius or Kaunas airport till your departure.

We have no waiting line so we can schedule your surgery as soon as you are ready to do so.

Everyone in our clinic speaks English, including nurses, assistants and the surgeon.

You can find lots of testimonials from our previous patients online. Reading all the positive feedback on Google or Facebook can help you make a final decision. 

2-3 hour regular flights operate from all main airports in the UK & Ireland. Lithuania is closer than you thought. You can find the list of direct flights here. Please note that airlines constantly add new flights and new destinations, therefore feel free to contact us if you need help choosing the flight that suits you best.

Lithuania has been a part of the EU and NATO since 2004. Lithuania has one of the fastest growing economies in the whole region and the second fastest internet speed in the world. Lithuanian medical schools have trained many medical professionals who are highly appreciated and employed by many foreign hospitals, among which hospitals in the UK. Our clinic works according to the highest standards set to the medical institutions by the European Union.

Athletes treated at Nordorthopaedics

Our clinic uses implants based on their performance in international registries.

Being a true member of the International Society of Arthroplasty Registries, Lithuania is one of the leaders in low joint replacement revision rates, as only 9% of surgeries in Lithuania require revision in 10 years after surgery. Moreover, with the implants used at our clinic, only 2-3% of surgeries require revision in 10 years after surgery, while revision rates in some other Western countries, for example, USA, is as high as 17% in 10 years after surgery. The implants used at our clinic have been evaluated by other countries’ registries as those ensuring longest implant life, as compared to products of other manufacturers. Read more here.

What is a hip replacement?

A hip replacement, also known as a total hip arthroplasty, is an orthopaedic surgery performed in order to restore hip motion and relieve pain of the hip joint. During this surgery, a dysfunctional hip joint is changed into a prosthetic implant.

A hip joint consists of a round femur head which tightly fits into a socket (acetabulum). Normally surfaces of the acetabulum, as well as the femur head, are both covered with a thick layer of cartilage. It cushions the bones where they meet to form the joint. However, due to various medical conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or osteonecrosis, hip cartilage is damaged and can no longer perform its function. Note that hip replacement surgery is performed when all other treatments have not provided enough pain relief.

A hip replacement surgery is done under epidural anaesthesia and deep sedation.

FAQ about hip replacement with our surgeon
More FAQ videos from our surgeon:

Watch full list of interview sessions on our Youtube channel.

Preparing for a hip replacement surgery

There are several important things a potential patient needs to consider as a hip replacement surgery approaches.

What are the eligibility criteria for a hip replacement surgery?

There are no age-related requirements. Even though most of replacement surgeries are performed on patients between 60 and 80 years of age, younger patients can also be eligible.

Tissue-preserving technique

A tissue-preserving hip replacement, also known as minimally invasive total hip arthroplasty (THA), is a surgical technique which is getting increasingly popular because of a shorter hospital stay and decreased rehabilitation time. It is similar to a traditional hip replacement surgery, however, it is designed to preserve muscle and connective tissue around the hip.

A tissue-preserving full hip replacement is different from a traditional full hip replacement because a much shorter incision of about 13 cm is made as compared to approximately 25 cm in traditional surgery. Moreover, muscles and ligaments are detached to a lesser extent than in traditional hip replacement surgery. Special surgical tools and techniques are used to access hip joint without damaging the surrounding tissues. The implants are the same as in traditional hip replacement.

Note that not every patient is recommended a tissue-preserving hip replacement surgery. This procedure is usually offered to patients who are younger and have a better physical form. One’s eligibility for this type of hip replacement surgery will be evaluated during a private consultation with a doctor.

What to expect after hip replacement surgery?

The surgery will take approximately 2 hours. After the surgery, you will be moved to a recovery room as you recover from deep sedation. Once you are alert, you may feel some discomfort in the hip area. After waking up from deep sedation some patients may feel the need to clear their lungs by coughing excessively which is completely normal. Patients will have to take pain-relieving drugs or will have them administered through an intravenous catheter. A drain tube will probably be placed inside the hip at the incision site. On the first day, patients are usually allowed to drink and consume foods.

Patients usually spend approximately 2 days at the hospital. After the first day, most of them can sit up on the edge of the bed and stand. On the second day, patients can walk slowly using crutches.

On day two or three most patients will start physical therapy. Patients are recommended to sleep on the healthy hip with a pillow between the legs to position the operated hip comfortably. Make sure to have assistance at home, which is necessary for the first few weeks. The patients are recommended to refrain from housework and other activities, such as gardening.

The importance of physical therapy

Patients are likely to begin doing light recovery exercises the next day after surgery. Later on, patients will be introduced to a special exercise routine which helps to regain muscle strength and mobility much faster. Even though moving or exercising might feel uncomfortable at first, actively participating in physical therapy is crucial for a successful healing of the muscles and reduced overall recovery time. A physiotherapist will adapt a recovery program and the difficulty of the exercises depending on individual progress. At the beginning of the post-operative period, patients are recommended to exercise for 20 minutes 3 times per day. More details on specific exercises will be given during one’s stay at the hospital and rehabilitation centre.

How to reduce risks of flying after a hip replacement surgery?

Flying right after a surgery may increase the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT). DVT is a formation of a blood clot within a deep vein in the body, usually in the legs. A blood clot blocks blood flow and in extremely rare cases can travel to the lungs and cause pulmonary embolism. Prolonged sitting time may provoke clot formation, therefore, it is essential to know how to reduce the risks of travelling.

  • In order to prevent any complications, patients are advised to wear compression stockings, especially during a flight which is longer than 4 hours. Compression socks tightly compresses the legs, reducing vein diameter, and therefore, increasing venous blood flow velocity and valve effectiveness.
  • Walking whenever possible and doing anti-DVT exercises (foot pumps, ankle circles, leg lifts, and knee pull-ins) will lower DVT risk too.
  • A physician will prescribe blood-thinning medication as well.
  • The patient should drink plenty of water and avoid consuming alcohol.
Wound care
Driving after a surgery

Patients are not allowed to drive for at least 6 weeks post-surgery, which is subject to surgeon’s advice. It may be tricky to get in and out of the car, therefore, it is best to have assistance until you feel comfortable driving alone again. It is important to practice applying the brake quickly and forcefully as well as slowly as may be required in particular situations. Bear in mind that some pain relieving medications can have a sedative effect and should not be taken before driving.

Physical activity after surgery

Right after the surgery, you will be able to walk, however, it might feel quite uncomfortable. Since you will have to use a cane, walker, or crutches, arrange the furniture at home so that it is not difficult to move around. Avoid the stairs for the first few weeks. Therefore, if your bedroom is located on the upper floor, you might need to consider sleeping in a room that does not require you to walk up and down.

Patients will be provided with a special exercise routine that focuses mainly on strengthening muscles in the hips and upper legs. Bear in mind that walking, although highly beneficial, is not a substitute for the exercises.

Being physically active is a crucial part of a successful recovery. Patients are encouraged to return to an active lifestyle around three months after surgery. Mild physical activities like swimming, golfing or cycling will not only aid in the recovery of your joint but will also positively affect your general health. Highly active sports like running or skiing should be avoided.

13 patients' case studies