How to Choose a Knee Surgeon: 7 Things to Look For

Choosing the right knee surgeon is critical. Learn what credentials, experience, and questions matter most when selecting an orthopedic surgeon.

Board Certification

Your surgeon should be board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery (ABOS). This means they completed a 5-year orthopedic surgery residency and passed rigorous written and oral exams. Verify at certificationmatters.org — it's free and takes 30 seconds.

Be cautious of surgeons who are "board eligible" rather than "board certified." Eligible means they completed training but haven't passed the exams yet.

Fellowship Training

• Joint replacement — 1-year fellowship focused on hip and knee replacement (ideal for knee replacement patients)
• Sports medicine — 1-year fellowship focused on ACL, meniscus, cartilage, and athletic injuries (ideal for ligament/sports injury patients)

Fellowship adds 1-2 years of subspecialty training beyond the 5-year residency. Not all orthopedic surgeons have fellowship training — those who do have focused expertise.

Surgical Volume

Research consistently shows that surgeons who perform more procedures have better outcomes. For knee replacement, look for:

Ask directly: "How many of this specific procedure do you perform per year?" A confident surgeon will have a clear answer.

Hospital Quality

• Joint Replacement Center of Excellence designation
• Low infection and readmission rates (ask or check Medicare's Hospital Compare)
• Dedicated orthopedic nursing units (not general surgical floors)
• Modern techniques available: robotic surgery, computer navigation, outpatient options
• Same-day discharge protocols (indicates an efficient, experienced program)

Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

• How many of this procedure do you do per year?
• What is your complication rate? Infection rate?
• What technique do you recommend for my case, and why?
• Do you offer robotic-assisted surgery?
• Can this be done outpatient, or will I stay overnight?

• What physical therapy protocol do you use?
• When can I drive? Return to work? Exercise?
• What restrictions will I have long-term?

• Which hospitals/surgery centers do you operate at?
• What insurance do you accept?
• What will my out-of-pocket cost be?

Red Flags to Watch For

• Rushes to schedule surgery without trying conservative treatments first
• Doesn't discuss alternatives (there's almost always more than one option)
• Won't answer volume/outcome questions clearly
• Recommends surgery via telehealth only (you need a physical exam)
• Isn't board certified or dodges credential questions
• Discourages second opinions (good surgeons welcome them)

Frequently Asked Questions

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