Knee replacement surgery is one of the most common major orthopedic procedures in the United States. For people with advanced knee arthritis, severe joint damage, or persistent pain that has not improved with nonsurgical treatment, total knee replacement can help reduce pain and improve mobility.
Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) in New York City is one of the most recognized orthopedic hospitals in the United States.
The hospital has maintained a particularly strong position in national orthopedic rankings. U.S. News & World Report's 2025–2026 specialty ranking placed HSS at No. 1 nationally for orthopedics. HSS also reports recognition for orthopedic care from multiple ranking organizations.
HSS specializes heavily in musculoskeletal medicine rather than functioning primarily as a broad general hospital.
Its orthopedic services include joint replacement, sports medicine, spine care, and treatment of complex musculoskeletal conditions.
For knee replacement, a specialized orthopedic environment can provide access to surgeons and rehabilitation professionals who perform large numbers of joint procedures.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester is another major destination for complex orthopedic and joint-replacement care.
The 2026 World's Best Specialized Hospitals ranking from Statista placed Mayo Clinic–Rochester No. 1 worldwide for orthopedics. Mayo Clinic also maintains a highly ranked national hospital system across several specialties.
Mayo's knee replacement program uses a multidisciplinary approach involving orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiology and perioperative medicine specialists, and physical medicine and rehabilitation professionals.
This coordinated approach can be particularly valuable for people with other medical conditions or complicated joint problems.
Mayo Clinic also operates major campuses in Arizona and Florida, although Rochester is the location most frequently associated with its nationally prominent orthopedic program.
NYU Langone Hospitals is another highly ranked orthopedic institution in New York.
The 2025–2026 U.S. News orthopedic ranking placed NYU Langone second nationally, immediately behind HSS.
Its orthopedic program includes joint replacement and treatment of degenerative conditions affecting the knee, hip, shoulder, and other joints.
NYU Langone's large academic medical system can also provide access to diagnostic services, rehabilitation, pain management, and other medical specialties when they are needed alongside orthopedic surgery.
Cleveland Clinic is another nationally recognized medical center with an extensive orthopedic and joint-replacement program.
Its orthopedic services cover conditions affecting the knee, hip, shoulder, foot and ankle, spine, and other parts of the musculoskeletal system.
The Cleveland Clinic's size is one of its distinguishing features. Patients requiring care from multiple medical specialties can receive treatment within a large academic health system.
This can be especially relevant for people who have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, or other conditions that need to be considered before and after major orthopedic surgery.
NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital is another major academic medical center with a highly regarded orthopedic program.
The 2025–2026 U.S. News orthopedic ranking placed NewYork-Presbyterian fourth nationally.
The hospital's orthopedic services include joint replacement and complex musculoskeletal surgery.
Its connection with major academic institutions also provides access to a broad range of medical specialties and advanced diagnostic services.
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is another nationally recognized orthopedic institution.
The 2025–2026 U.S. News ranking placed Cedars-Sinai fifth nationally for orthopedics.
Its orthopedic services include treatment for degenerative joint disease and joint replacement.
For patients in Southern California, a major academic medical center such as Cedars-Sinai can provide access to orthopedic surgery alongside anesthesia, rehabilitation, imaging, and other supporting specialties.
UCSF Medical Center is another highly ranked orthopedic center.
The 2025–2026 U.S. News orthopedic ranking placed UCSF sixth nationally.
Its academic setting allows orthopedic specialists to work alongside physicians in other disciplines.
For complicated knee cases, multidisciplinary care can be important because the cause of knee pain may involve more than straightforward osteoarthritis.
North Shore University Hospital, part of Northwell Health, also appears among the highest-ranked U.S. orthopedic hospitals.
The 2025–2026 U.S. News ranking placed the hospital seventh nationally for orthopedics.
Its location on Long Island makes it an important orthopedic referral center for patients in the New York metropolitan region.
Joint replacement services can include treatment for advanced knee and hip arthritis as well as complex orthopedic conditions.
Texas Orthopedic Hospital in Houston is particularly relevant when looking specifically at knee and hip replacement.
The hospital was previously recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a High Performing hospital for knee replacement, hip replacement, hip fracture, spinal fusion, and orthopedics.
The facility is focused heavily on orthopedic care, making it different from a large general hospital where orthopedics is only one department among many.
Hoag Orthopedic Institute in California is another specialized orthopedic center worth considering.
The institute was ranked 29th nationally in orthopedics in the 2024–2025 U.S. News rankings and received a High Performing designation for knee replacement and hip replacement.
Its focus on orthopedic surgery and joint conditions makes it particularly relevant for people comparing specialized facilities rather than general medical hospitals.
A hospital's overall ranking is only one factor.
For knee replacement, several other measures can be important.
Hospitals and surgeons that perform large numbers of joint-replacement procedures may have extensive experience with routine and complex cases.
However, volume alone does not guarantee an individual surgical outcome.
Potential complications after knee replacement include infection, blood clots, stiffness, nerve or blood-vessel injury, implant problems, and persistent pain.
Hospital and surgeon complication data can therefore be useful when comparing facilities.
Recovery does not end when the operation is completed.
Physical therapy is an important part of regaining strength, flexibility, balance, and normal movement.
A hospital with coordinated rehabilitation services can make the transition from surgery to recovery more straightforward.
Joint replacement involves placing an artificial implant inside the body, so infection prevention is especially important.
Hospitals use surgical sterilization procedures, antibiotics, wound-care protocols, and other measures to reduce infection risk.
Some knee replacement patients have additional challenges such as previous knee surgery, severe deformity, bone loss, obesity, inflammatory arthritis, or other medical conditions.
A large academic orthopedic center may be particularly useful for complicated cases requiring multiple specialties.
Not every patient with severe knee arthritis needs a total knee replacement.
A partial knee replacement may be considered when arthritis is limited to one compartment of the knee and other clinical factors are favorable.
Total knee replacement replaces damaged surfaces across the major compartments of the joint.
The appropriate procedure depends on the location and severity of joint damage, ligament condition, alignment, activity level, age, and other medical factors.
A national ranking can be a useful starting point, but it should not be the only measure.
Important questions include:
Insurance network status can be particularly important because orthopedic surgery can involve separate bills from the hospital, surgeon, anesthesiologist, imaging providers, and rehabilitation professionals.
The cost of knee replacement can vary considerably.
Factors affecting the final amount include hospital location, insurance coverage, surgeon fees, implant costs, anesthesia, inpatient or outpatient status, rehabilitation, and complications.
People with Medicare may have different costs from those with employer-sponsored insurance, Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, or private plans.
A hospital's published price should therefore not automatically be interpreted as the amount an individual patient will pay.
Not necessarily.
A nationally ranked hospital may be an excellent choice for a complex case, but a highly experienced orthopedic surgeon closer to home may be more practical for a routine procedure.
Travel can also create additional costs and logistical challenges.
Postoperative appointments and physical therapy may continue for weeks or months, making geographic proximity an important consideration.
Before scheduling surgery, useful questions include:
These questions can provide more useful information than a hospital ranking alone.
Several U.S. hospitals stand out for orthopedic and knee-replacement care, including Hospital for Special Surgery, Mayo Clinic–Rochester, NYU Langone Hospitals, Cleveland Clinic, NewYork-Presbyterian, Cedars-Sinai, UCSF Medical Center, North Shore University Hospital, Texas Orthopedic Hospital, and Hoag Orthopedic Institute.
HSS currently holds the top U.S. position in the 2025–2026 U.S. News orthopedic ranking, while Mayo Clinic–Rochester was ranked No. 1 worldwide for orthopedics in Statista's 2026 specialized-hospital ranking.