Hip Replacement Surgery in the Baltics

Executive Summary

If you're considering hip replacement surgery abroad, Lithuania and Latvia are two EU countries with private orthopaedic clinics that treat UK self-pay patients, usually on a fixed-price package. Packages are typically quoted at well under half the UK private price, as the table below shows. Standards vary from clinic to clinic, so the checks at the end of this guide matter more than the country.

For a full overview of hip replacement abroad — clinics, what's included, recovery timelines and how to book — see our Hip Replacement Surgery Abroad guide.

Why the Baltics Lead in European Orthopaedic Care

Both Lithuania and Latvia have specialised private orthopaedic clinics as well as general hospitals. Both are in the EU, so clinics are licensed under national law that follows EU rules; check the individual clinic's licence on its country's register.

• Lithuania: Kaunas has several private orthopaedic units that treat international patients. Lithuanian orthopaedic surgeons frequently complete subspecialty fellowships in the UK, Germany, and Switzerland, bringing English fluency and modern clinical protocols back to Kaunas.
• Latvia: Riga has private orthopaedic and sports-medicine clinics that treat international patients. As anywhere, check the individual clinic and surgeon rather than the country's reputation.

Side-by-Side Cost Comparison: UK vs. The Baltics

Understanding the financial breakdown is key to making an informed decision. Baltic clinics commonly quote a fixed package covering hospital nights, imaging and post-operative physiotherapy. Ask for yours itemised in writing.

Below is a typical pricing comparison for total hip replacement, with implant systems commonly used in Baltic clinics:

Already have a clinic in mind? See what the official records say about it →

Note: While Poland remains the most cost-effective entry point, the Baltic package is highly valued for its longer inpatient monitoring (up to 5 nights) and extensive physical therapy inclusions.

What to Ask a Baltic Clinic About Standards

Standards differ between clinics in Kaunas and Riga, as they do anywhere. These are the points worth asking about in writing.

• The implant: ask the clinic to name the hip system in writing. Widely used systems such as the Zimmer Biomet G7 cup and Stryker Accolade II stem are familiar to UK orthopaedic units, which makes follow-up at home simpler.
• The handover home: ask whether you will leave with a discharge summary in English, the implant's model and serial numbers, and physiotherapy instructions your UK GP or physiotherapist can follow.
• Infection rates: ask the clinic for its own post-operative infection rate for hip replacement, how it is measured, and whether its theatres use laminar airflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

Take the Next Step Toward Mobile Living

If you have been told you need a total hip replacement and are weighing a long NHS wait against a UK private quote, a Baltic clinic is one option to compare. Check the clinic itself before you decide.

See also: hip replacement cost in the UK.

Clinics UK patients look at

The four with the most Google reviews among the orthopaedic clinics we hold. Each has a free page with its records.

Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, ChennaiChennai, IndiaKIMS-Sunshine Hospitals, BegumpetHyderabad (Begumpet), IndiaYashoda Hospitals, SomajigudaHyderabad (Somajiguda, Raj Bhavan Road), IndiaYashoda Hospitals, MalakpetHyderabad (Malakpet, Nalgonda X Roads), India

Written by Saher Shodhan

Saher Shodhan is the founder of Thera Travel, which publishes what the official records show about clinics abroad, each fact with the date it was checked, and answers patients' enquiries, free. More about Thera → How we write and check our guides →