Nigeria is one of the important countries that provides some of the best athletes to the sporting world. The people of Nigeria are highly active in high impact activities like running, jumping, & many more. It is certain that knee injuries happen during such activities. For getting relief from the injuries and the pain, knee replacement surgery is one of the best options for the patients with knee injuries. Although knee replacement treatment is available in Nigeria in cities like Abuja, Lagos, Kano, & many more. However the cost of knee replacement surgery in Nigeria is more affordable than the western countries. In this blog, we are going to discuss the knee replacement surgery in Nigeria, factors that affect the cost of knee replacement surgery in Nigeria, and many more.
Overview of Knee Replacement Treatment
Knee replacement is a major medical process where an orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged knee parts of the knee joint and replaces them with the new ones. During the surgery, first of all, doctors can give you the dose of anesthesia to numb your body below the waist. After that orthopedic surgeon incised over the knee and removed the damaged portion of the knee joint. Then, they replaced the damaged parts with artificial implants which are made of hard plastic or metals.
Types of Knee Replacement Surgery
There are two types of knee replacement surgery such as total knee replacement surgery and partial knee replacement surgery. Both of them are described below:
- Total Knee Replacement Surgery: TKR is a most common surgery where an orthopedic surgeon removes the damaged bone and the ligament of the knee joint. It is replaced with artificial implants which are made of ceramic and metals.
- Partial Knee Replacement Surgery: It is a minor surgical procedure where doctors remove some portions of damaged knee joints. This is replaced with the prosthesis and these are made of hard plastic and metals. It helps in stability of the knee.
Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery in Nigeria
The cost of knee replacement surgery in Nigeria is much lower than the countries like the USA, UK, Singapore, and many more. Although the cost of knee replacement surgery in Nigeria ranges between ₦1,000,000 to ₦2,500,000. However this cost can be fluctuated according to the patient’s requirements.
Breakdown of Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery
Here are the detailed cost breakdown of knee replacement surgery:
| Components | Price in Nigerian and USD | Specification |
| Pre-Operative | ₦3,000-₦15,000 and $2-$10 | Blood Tests, X-ray, and other tests. |
| Hospital Charges | ₦5,00,000-₦1,000,000 and $370-$740 | Includes the admission charges, bed charges, and medical facilities. |
| Doctors Fees | ₦20,000-₦80,000 and $14-$60 | Includes the surgeons and nurses fees. |
| Implant Charges | ₦3,00,000-₦1,000,000 and $220-$740 | Includes the fees of different implants. |
| Post-Operative | ₦2,00,000-₦4,00,000 and$150-$300. | Includes the recovery process and rehab programs. |
Factors Affecting the Cost of Knee Replacement Surgery
There are different types of factors that influence the cost of knee replacement surgery in Nigeria, such as types of surgery, locations of the hospital, experience of the orthopedic surgeons, etc. Some of them are:
- Types of Surgery: It is important to know the types of surgery required for you. Because the cost of total knee replacement surgery is costlier than the partial knee replacement surgery.
- Location of the Hospital: Although knee replacement surgery is available in Nigeria. But the location of the hospitals is one of the major factors that affect the cost of knee replacement. Hospitals located in bigger cities charge more than the hospitals located in smaller cities.
- Experience of Surgeons: Those surgeons who have highly qualified and trained in international institutes and academies charge more than the novice and lesser experienced surgeons.
- Quality of the Implants: The implants like plastic and ceramic have low costs as compared to the implants which are made of metals. Because they are reliable and long-lasting.
- Types of Hospitals: The charges of private hospitals is very high as compared to the government hospitals. Because they provide high quality infrastructure and technology to treat the patients.
Cost Comparison between Nigeria and Other Countries for Knee Replacement Surgery
The cost of knee replacement surgery differs in different countries. For e.g cost of knee replacement surgery in India is more than the cost of knee replacement surgery in Iran. Here is a detailed comparison of the cost of knee replacement surgery in different countries.
| Countries | Cost in Local Currency | Cost in US Dollar |
| India | ₹4,00,000-₹10,00,000 | $4,000-$10,000 |
| Nigeria | ₦1,000,000-₦2,500,000 | $750-$1,850 |
| Ghana | GHS 20,000 to GHS 80,000 | $1,800 to $7,200 |
| Ethiopia | 77800 BR to 1089800 BR | $5,000 to $7,000 |
| Oman | 5,000 OMR to 10,000 OMR | $13,000 to $26,000 |
| Kenya | KSH 5,00,000 to KSH 10,00,000 | $3,800 to $7,700 |
| Saudi Arabia | 37000 SAR to 1,05,000 SAR | $10,000 to $28,000 |
| Qatar | 20,000 QAR – 1,20,000 QAR | $5,500 to $32,900 |
| Thailand | ฿2,50,000 to ฿5,00,000 | $8,000 to $16,000 |
| Bahrain | 5650 BD to 7900 BD | $15,000 to $21,000 |
| Turkey | ₺1,70,700 to ₺4,30,200 | $4,000 to $10,000 |
| Bangladesh | 2,00,000 BDT – 6,00,000 BDT | $1,600 to $2,000 |
| Pakistan | 4,00,000 PKR – 6,00,000 PKR | $1,300 to $2,000 |
Why is Nigeria One of the Best African Countries for Knee Replacement Surgery?
Nigeria is one of the best countries for knee replacement surgery. Here are some of the reasons that make it the best:
Growing Orthopedic and Knee Replacement Expertise
Nigeria is one of the developing countries in terms of the orthopedic surgery field. The hospitals in Nigeria have many experienced orthopedic surgeons who have been serving in Nigeria for a very long time. The hospitals in urban cities like Abuja, Lagos, & many more. Conduct routine and complex cases with very effective outcomes.
Cost Effectiveness Compared to Other Countries
Cost-effectiveness is one of the reasons Nigeria is best for knee replacement surgery. Surgical expenses in Nigeria are generally lower than countries like the UK, Germany, Canada, etc.
Modern Hospitals and Infrastructure
The hospitals in cities like Abuja and Lagos have great infrastructure and advanced medical technologies to treat the victims of knee injuries. The facilities in these hospitals follow international safety protocols and infection-control standards.
Shorter Waiting Times
In many countries, there is a very long waiting time for surgery. Whereas Nigeria has very short waiting times for the consultation and surgery. This is beneficial for the individuals who have severe knee pain and limited mobility and need regular intervention.
Conclusion
Nigeria is a leading country in terms of medical field and technology. Nigeria provides so many world class athletes to the sporting universe. During the activities like running, high jumping, & other highly impact activities, the knee injured. To get rid of this injury and pain, knee replacement surgery is the best option for them. Nigeria provides a high-quality health care system and advanced technology with low cost as compared to other western countries. Above, we mentioned all the crucial and important facts about the knee replacement surgery in Nigeria along with the cost, cost affecting factors, and many more. We hope this blog is helpful for the Nigerian people and foreigners, and they can plan their surgery wisely and confidently.