What we treat
Osteoarthritis of the hip or knee causes pain, stiffness, and reduced mobility that affects sleep, work, and daily life. When other treatments – exercise, weight management, painkillers, and injection therapy – are no longer sufficient, joint replacement surgery can restore your quality of life.
At Klíníkin, we perform hip and knee replacements with an experienced team of orthopaedic surgeons, anaesthesiologists, nurses, and physiotherapists. The surgeries are performed in our operating theatres, and you will stay on the inpatient ward in a private room until you are ready to go home – usually after one to two days.
We also offer knee arthroscopy and APS treatment for osteoarthritis symptoms. Surgery covered by SÍ requires a referral; you can also choose to pay yourself – see the waiting times section below.
Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is caused by an imbalance in the breakdown and reconstruction of joint cartilage, which makes the joint cartilage thinner and causes the joint to form bone spurs at the joint edges, reducing the mobility of the joint. When the joint damage becomes extensive, the joint cartilage is often completely gone, leaving the bone bare, while at the same time the quantity and quality of the joint fluid changes so that the joint swells up under load. This is the reason for the three main symptoms of osteoarthritis:
Pain under load
Reduced mobility
Stiffness
The reason why some of us develop osteoarthritis is mostly unknown. However, it is clear that the reason is multifaceted and there is rarely only one cause behind it. Several risk factors are well known:
Gender (women are at higher risk of suffering from osteoarthritis than men)
Age (joint cartilage, like other tissues of the body, undergoes ageing and loses quality)
Weight (obesity problems increase the likelihood of osteoarthritis, especially in the knees)
Previous injuries (fractures or serious ligament injuries)
Osteoarthritis is very common; thus, detectable osteoarthritis on an X-ray is found in about 5% of individuals aged 35-54. Osteoarthritis increases with age, and the proportion of those older than 65 who suffer from osteoarthritis is high. However, it is not the case that everyone with osteoarthritic changes has symptoms of the disease.
How we can help
Leading experts in their field
The team
Leading specialists and outstanding service.
Prices
Most of the Orthopaedic Clinic's procedures are performed in accordance with the agreement between the Reykjavík Medical Association and Icelandic Health Insurance (SÍ), but information on patient co-payments can be found on the Icelandic Health Insurance website: sjukra.is
On the other hand, there is an agreement for joint replacement surgeries between Klíníkin and Icelandic Health Insurance. Under that agreement, the volume of procedures is limited, so Klíníkin also offers procedures without SÍ coverage.
Procedure
Price from
Knee replacement without SÍ coverage
1,525,000
Hip replacement without SÍ coverage
1,525,000
APS therapy
129,000
Additional night on the ward
94,000
Hip replacement, if covered by SÍ agreement
Fully covered by SÍ
Knee replacement, if covered by SÍ agreement
Fully covered by SÍ
Admission consultation for joint replacement without Icelandic Health Insurance (SÍ) co-payment
27,000
How long do I need to wait?
Waiting times for joint replacement surgery depend on where you are on the waiting list and whether the procedure is paid for by Icelandic Health Insurance (SÍ) or yourself. The Directorate of Health manages the waiting lists for all institutions and publishes the figures in the dashboard below. It is updated monthly and shows both the number of people waiting for a hip or knee replacement and how long they have been waiting – at Klíníkin and elsewhere in the country. The Directorate's target is that no one should have to wait longer than 90 days for surgery.
Source: Directorate of Health – joint replacement dashboard. The figures are updated monthly by the Directorate and cover all institutions in Iceland. Open the dashboard in full size.
Surgery covered by SÍ
Klíníkin has an agreement with Icelandic Health Insurance (SÍ) for hip and knee joint replacement surgeries. If SÍ's conditions are met, SÍ pays for the surgery, and you only pay a visit fee in accordance with the regulations on co-payments of insured persons. In short, the conditions are that an orthopaedic surgeon has assessed that a joint replacement is the correct treatment and you are on a waiting list for surgery, that you are covered by Icelandic health insurance, and that the number of operations under the year's contract has not been exhausted – those who have waited the longest have priority.
We will review your status in the first consultation and tell you immediately whether and when you are entitled to SÍ coverage. You do not need to calculate this yourself.
Don't want to wait?
If you have not acquired the right to SÍ coverage, you can choose to pay for the surgery yourself and have it done sooner. The same team, the same operating theatre, and the same ward; the only difference is who pays. The price is in the price list above.
Please note that according to Klíníkin's agreement with Icelandic Health Insurance, we are not permitted to perform surgery on a self-pay basis for those who already have the right to SÍ coverage. We will review your rights with you before a decision is made.
