Quality-indicators of hospitals and clinics in Switzerland:

Knee replacement (artificial knee joint), reoperation

frequency of necessary, premature reoperations

Newly implanted artificial knee joints normally last 15-20 years, often even longer. Unfortunately, an average of 3.4% of patients need another operation (knee joint revision) within two years. The reasons for this are usually patella problems, instability or post-operative infections. Re-operations should be avoided if possible, as they are much less likely to be successful.

The proportion of such premature reoperations - and thus the risk for the patient of having one - is not the same at all hospitals. If you need an artificial knee joint, you may therefore find it advantageous to consider the 2-year re-operation rates when choosing your hospital.

In order to determine the hospital- or clinic-specific reoperation rates, knee surgery patients in Switzerland were observed over several years. The figures from this nationwide implant register can be considered very reliable. Almost all knee prosthesis operations performed in Switzerland (about 15'000 artificial knee joints per year) have been recorded. Informative data are available for 119 hospitals and clinics and 51'257 knee prosthesis operations.

Particularly relevant for patients is that twelve hospitals/clinics show significantly better results, i.e. fewer 2-year reoperations (green «scores» in the best list). The Schulthess Klinik in Zurich is even highly significantly better, with an impressively low re-operation rate of 1.1% for around 850 cases per year.

Significantly worse results, i.e. more frequent re-operations had to be found at twelve hospitals (red «scores» in the best list). Unfortunately, four hospitals stand out even with highly significant worse results. These are the Salem Hospital (Hirslanden Bern), the Clinique CIC Montreux in Clarens, the Bruderholzspital (Kantonsspital Baselland) and the Münsingen Hospital (part of the Insel Group). Also noteworthy is the poor performance of the Merian Iselin Clinic in Basel, which has a relatively high re-operation rate of 4% despite the highest number of knee prosthesis cases in Switzerland, i.e. almost 1'000 operations per year.

view customizable top-list

The best hospitals with regard to knee replacement (artificial knee joint), reoperation

... show less

#1: Spital Frutigen (Spitäler FMI AG)

  5.0

0,0% 

#2: Hôpital du Jura bernois SA (site de St-Imier)

  5.0

0,6% 

#3: Spital Männedorf

  4.9

0,8% 

#4: HFR - Hôpital fribourgeois (Site Hôpital de Fribourg)

  4.9

1,0% 

#5: Kantonsspital Schaffhausen (Spitäler Schaffhausen)

  4.9

1,0% 

#6: Schulthess Klinik, Zürich

  4.8

1,1% 

#7: Kantonsspital Glarus

  4.8

1,2% 

rank #7 to 112 hidden ... show

#8: Spital Interlaken (Spitäler FMI AG), Unterseen

  4.8

1,3% 

#9: Spital Bülach

  4.8

1,3% 

#10: Universitätsklinik Balgrist, Zürich

  4.7

1,5% 

#11: Kantonsspital Frauenfeld (Spital Thurgau AG)

  4.7

1,5% 

#12: Spital Brig (Hôpital du Valais / Spital Wallis)

  4.6

1,6% 

#13: Kantonsspital Winterthur

  4.6

1,7% 

#14: Kantonsspital Graubünden, Chur

  4.5

1,7% 

#15: Clinique Montbrillant, La Chaux-de-Fonds

  4.5

1,8% 

#16: Hôpital de La Tour, Meyrin

  4.5

1,8% 

#17: Luzerner Kantonsspital, LUKS (Standort Kantonsspital Luzern)

  4.5

1,9% 

#18: Spitalzentrum Biel

  4.5

1,9% 

#19: Hôpital Riviera-Chablais, Vaud Valais - HRC (Site de Rennaz)

  4.4

1,9% 

#20: Groupement Hospitalier de l`Ouest Lémanique - GHOL (groupe), Nyon

  4.4

2,0% 

#21: Kantonsspital St. Gallen (Standort St. Gallen)

  4.3

2,0% 

#22: Asana Spital Menziken

  4.3

2,0% 

#23: See­-Spital (Standort Kilchberg), Kilchberg (ZH)

  4.2

2,1% 

#24: Inselspital Bern (Teil der Insel Gruppe)

  4.2

2,2% 

#25: Hirslanden Klinik Aarau

  4.1

2,2% 

#26: Sonnenhofspital (Lindenhof AG), Bern

  4.1

2,2% 

#27: Spital Affoltern, Affoltern am Albis

  4.1

2,3% 

#28: Clinique Générale-Beaulieu, Genève

  3.9

2,4% 

#29: Klinik Pyramide am See, Zürich

  3.9

2,4% 

#30: Privatklinik Lindberg, Winterthur

  3.9

2,5% 

#31: Kantonsspital Aarau

  3.9

2,5% 

#32: Hôpital Intercantonal de la Broye - HIB (site de Payerne)

  3.8

2,5% 

#33: Hirslanden Klinik Birshof, Münchenstein

  3.8

2,5% 

#34: Klinik im Park - Hirslanden, Zürich

  3.8

2,5% 

#35: Stadtspital Waid, Zürich

  3.8

2,5% 

#36: AMEOS Spital Einsiedeln

  3.8

2,5% 

#37: Spital Wolhusen (Luzerner Kantonsspital)

  3.8

2,6% 

#38: Spital Burgdorf (Regionalspital Emmental AG)

  3.7

2,6% 

#39: Clinica Luganese SA Sede Moncucco

  3.7

2,6% 

#40: Etablissements Hospitaliers du Nord Vaudois - eHnv (site Hôpital de Saint-Loupe), Pompaples

  3.7

2,6% 

#41: Spital Rheinfelden (Gesundheitszentrum Fricktal)

  3.7

2,6% 

#42: Spital Walenstadt (Spitalregion Rheintal Werdenberg Sarganserland)

  3.7

2,6% 

#43: Kantonsspital Obwalden, Sarnen

  3.6

2,7% 

#44: Klinik Gut AG (Standort St. Moritz)

  3.6

2,7% 

#45: Clinique de La Source, Lausanne

  3.5

2,7% 

#46: Spital Limmattal, Schlieren

  3.5

2,8% 

#47: Clinique Bois­Cerf SA - Hirslanden, Lausanne

  3.4

2,8% 

#48: Kantonsspital Baden (Kantonsspital Baden AG)

  3.4

2,8% 

#49: Kantonsspital Nidwalden, Stans

  3.4

2,8% 

#50: Spital Zofingen

  3.4

2,9% 

#51: Clinica Ars Medica, SMN, Gravesano

  3.3

2,9% 

#52: Berit Klinik, Speicher

  3.3

2,9% 

#53: Les Hôpitaux Universitaires de Genève HUG (groupe)

  3.3

2,9% 

#54: Spital Aarberg (Teil der Insel Gruppe)

  3.2

3,0% 

#55: Klinik Villa im Park, Rothrist

  3.1

3,0% 

#56: Privatklinik Obach, SMN, Solothurn

  3.0

3,1% 

#57: Etablissements Hospitaliers du Nord Vaudois - eHnv (site Hôpital d'Yverdon-les-Bains)

  2.9

3,2% 

#58: Spital Olten (Solothurner Spitäler AG)

  2.9

3,2% 

#59: Spital Schwyz

  2.9

3,2% 

#60: Klinik Seeschau, Kreuzlingen

  2.8

3,2% 

#61: Universitätsspital Basel (USB)

  2.8

3,3% 

#62: Spital Langenthal (SRO Spital Region Oberaargau AG)

  2.6

3,4% 

#63: Spital Uster

  2.6

3,4% 

#64: EHC Ensemble hospitalier de la Côte (Site de Hôpital de Morges)

  2.5

3,4% 

#65: Klinik Gut AG (Standort Fläsch)

  2.5

3,4% 

#66: Hôpital du Jura bernois SA (site de Moutier)

  2.2

3,6% 

#67: Stadtspital Triemli, Zürich

  2.2

3,7% 

#68: Kantonsspital Uri, Altdorf UR

  2.1

3,7% 

#69: Spital Grabs (Spitalregion Rheintal Werdenberg Sarganserland)

  2.0

3,8% 

#70: Bürgerspital Solothurn (Solothurner Spitäler AG)

  2.0

3,8% 

#71: Clinique Générale Ste-Anne, SMN, Fribourg

  1.9

3,8% 

#72: Spital Linth, Uznach

  1.9

3,8% 

#73: EOC Ente ospedaliero cantonale (Ospedale di Mendrisio)

  1.9

3,9% 

#74: EOC Ente ospedaliero cantonale (Ospedale di Locarno)

  1.9

3,9% 

#75: Clinique la Colline - Hirslanden, Genève

  1.8

3,9% 

#76: AndreasKlinik - Hirslanden, Cham

  1.8

3,9% 

#77: Lindenhofspital (Lindenhof AG), Bern

  1.7

4,0% 

#78: Hôpital du Jura (Site de Delémont)

  1.7

4,0% 

#79: Merian Iselin Klinik, Basel

  1.6

4,0% 

#80: Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, Luzern

  1.6

4,0% 

#81: Clinique la Prairie, Clarens

  1.6

4,1% 

#82: Clinique de Valère, SMN, Sion

  1.6

4,1% 

#83: GZO Spital Wetzikon

  1.6

4,1% 

#84: CHUV Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois (site de Lausanne / Bugnon)

  1.5

4,2% 

#85: Spital Thun (Spital Thun-Simmental-Saanenland AG)

  1.3

4,3% 

#86: Clinique CIC Saxon

  1.3

4,3% 

#87: Klinik Permanence (Hirslanden Bern AG)

  1.2

4,3% 

#88: Kantonsspital Münsterlingen (Spital Thurgau AG)

  1.2

4,4% 

#89: Hirslanden Klinik Stephanshorn, St. Gallen

  1.2

4,4% 

#90: Spital Lachen, Lachen SZ

  1.0

4,6% 

#91: Spital Zollikerberg

  1.0

4,6% 

#92: Spital Sursee (Luzerner Kantonsspital)

  0.9

4,6% 

#93: Spital Langnau (Regionalspital Emmental AG), Langnau im Emmental

  0.9

4,6% 

#94: Spital Riggisberg (Teil der Insel Gruppe)

  0.8

4,7% 

#95: Spital Wil (Spitalregion Fürstenland Toggenburg), Wil (SG)

  0.7

4,8% 

#96: Privatklinik Belair, SMN, Schaffhausen

  0.7

4,9% 

#97: Hôpital de la Providence, SMN Neuchâtel

  0.6

5,0% 

#98: Clinique de Montchoisi, Lausanne

  0.6

5,0% 

#99: Regionalspital Surselva, Ilanz

  0.6

5,0% 

#100: Asana Spital Leuggern

  0.5

5,2% 

#101: Hirslanden Klinik am Rosenberg, Heiden

  0.5

5,2% 

#102: Privatklinik Siloah (Swiss Medical Network), Gümligen

  0.4

5,3% 

#103: Klinik Hirslanden Zürich

  0.4

5,3% 

#104: Praxisklinik Rennbahn, Muttenz

  0.3

5,5% 

#105: Zuger Kantonsspital, Baar

  0.3

5,6% 

#106: Hirslanden Klinik Linde, Biel

  0.3

5,6% 

#107: Clinique de Genolier

  0.2

5,7% 

#108: Salem-Spital (Hirslanden Bern AG)

  0.2

5,8% 

#109: Privatklinik Bethanien, Zürich

  0.2

6,1% 

#110: Stiftung Spital Muri, Muri AG

  0.2

6,1% 

#111: Clinique CIC Montreux, Clarens

  0.1

6,2% 

#112: EOC Ente ospedaliero cantonale (Ospedale di Lugano)

  0.1

6,4% 

#113: Klinik Hohmad, Thun

  0.1

6,8% 

#114: Rosenklinik, Rapperswil-Jona

  0.1

7,6% 

#115: Spital Herisau (Spitalverbund AR)

  0.1

8,3% 

#116: Kantonsspital Baselland (Standort Liestal)

  0.1

8,7% 

#117: Bruderholzspital (Kantonsspital Baselland)

  0.1

8,9% 

#118: Spital Münsingen (Teil der Insel Gruppe)

  0.1

9,3% 

Profile of the key figure knee replacement (artificial knee joint), reoperation

• Time of data collection: 01.01.2016 - 31.12.2019
• Source: Swiss National Association for Quality Development in Hospitals and Clinics (ANQ), Quality indicators hospitals
• Direct link to source not available in English - view it in German or in French
• Direct link to the quality report (pdf)
• Department: Acute care

About the indicator «Re-operation rates»

Mesuré en tant que taux de réopération ajusté au risque pour les premières implantations d'endoprothèses (hanche artificielle, genou artificiel) dans les deux ans - par hôpital.

Strengths:

Re-operations after the insertion of prostheses are risky for patients and are associated with additional suffering. A low re-operation rate provides a reliable indications of optimal surgical techniques and procedures, the use of the best possible prosthesis products, and high-quality follow-up care.
The re-operation rates (implant register) are risk-adjusted by the Foundation for Quality Assurance in Implant Medicine SIRIS with various additional measurements (age and gender, BMI, ASA-Sore and Charnley classification). This elaborate form of risk adjustment meets high scientific standards.

Limits:

Re-operation rates are only meaningful when a hospital has a sufficient number of cases. In the case of small hospitals, nothing can be said with certainty (whereby small case numbers are considered unfavourable in terms of good quality anyway). In order to achieve statistically sufficient case numbers, observations are made over two years. This means that the figures are already two to four years old when they are published. It is therefore possible that a hospital that performs poorly could have its quality improved in the meantime and vice versa.

There are patient-ratings about this topic

Important note: We can check patient feedbacks only superficial. They might be not objective.
  I am concious of that and wish to read the patients ratings.

Ratings from patients about this topic:

 verified rating about the Universitätsklinik Balgrist, Zürich

 

inpatient treatment in Jun.2023, date of rating: 24.09.2023

 verified rating about the Sonnenhofspital, Bern

Very good care. Well organized 

About the surgery:

Knee prosthesis went without any problems, quick recovery, good advice (surgeon: Dr. Mees Chardtin)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Nov.2020, date of rating: 21.05.2023

 verified rating about the Spital Uster

Everything was perfectly organized from entry to exit. Very nice staff. Very good care. Very good food 

About the surgery:

Artificial knee joint (surgeon: Dr. Jean-Claude Küttel)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Dec.2022, date of rating: 09.12.2022

 verified rating about the Schulthess Klinik, Zürich

I had a knee TEP (complete artificial knee joint) three years ago and have been free of symptoms ever since. 

About the surgery:

The explanation and preparation for the operation was perfect. The surgery went very well and so did the healing process and subsequent rehabilitation. (surgeon: Dr. Laurent Harder)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Sep.2019, date of rating: 10.11.2022

 verified rating about the Klinik Hirslanden Zürich

Unfortunately, my knee prosthesis has to be replaced after 15 months. Got a second opinion. The comment from the new surgeon was "Unfortunately, this was not a masterpiece". No compliments for the Endoclinic. 

About the surgery:

Very well for 5 months after the operation, then severe pain began. I was accused of not doing enough training, no further check was made. According to the physiotherapist, the exercises were too difficult for a 75-year-old patient. (surgeon: Dr. Felix Rapp)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jan.2020, date of rating: 13.06.2021

 verified rating about the Klinik Seeschau, Kreuzlingen

very good reception, care and support. Everything was super clean, great food. There are no objections from me, only the dress boxes in the newly renovated rooms are bit small (not Enough shelves)! The location of the clinic is great. Thank you. 

About the surgery:

artificial knee joint - without problems - recovery was very good and fast - recommenced (surgeon: Dr. Stefan Heinz)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in May.2016, date of rating: 25.06.2019

 verified rating about the Schulthess Klinik, Zürich

Even as a general patient you are in very good hands in this clinic. Staff very friendly and helpful. Medical care very good. The physiotherapy, however, an absolute no go! Almost no appointment was met. A lady said, you can learn to climb stairs in rehab. 

About the surgery:

New knee joint on the right. (surgeon: Dr. T. Briem)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Aug.2018, date of rating: 20.09.2018

 verified rating about the Regionalspital Surselva, Ilanz

Great. High qualification, doctors, care, kitchen, service 

About the surgery:

artificial knee joint inserted, no problem, fast mobilization, good wound healing (surgeon: Dr. Martin Maleck)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Oct.2017, date of rating: 12.03.2018

 verified rating about the Groupement Hospit. de l`Ouest Lémanique, Nyon

In a shared room, qualified and friendly staff, very attentive 

About the surgery:

Knee prosthesis surgery. No problems so far. (surgeon: Dr. Pietro Poglia)

transl. from french, inpatient treatment in Jan.2018, date of rating: 25.02.2018

 verified rating about the Spital Limmattal, Schlieren

very friendly doctors, physiotherapists and nursing 

About the surgery:

Artificial knee, trouble-free progress, quickly recovered, full exposure was possible right from the start, was treated in a very friendly manner (surgeon: Dr. Thomas Michniowski)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jan.2017, date of rating: 25.04.2017

 verified rating about the Klinik Permanence, Bern

Trouble-free surgery on the knee. Friendly staff. Twin room for semi-private no longer up-to-date. 

About the surgery:

Meniscectomy

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jul.2013, date of rating: 23.01.2017

 unverified rating about the Spitäler Schaffhausen (Gruppe)

Good service and all-round care. Was very satisfied. Thank you to everyone involved 

About the surgery:

Artificial knee joint. Everything went smoothly (surgeon: Dr. Bartkowicki)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jan.2023, date of rating: 12.02.2023

 unverified rating about the Rosenklinik, Rapperswil-Jona

great, friendly 

About the surgery:

Knee joint replaced, healed super after 3 months (surgeon: Dr. Jud)

transl. from german, date of rating: 30.03.2022

 unverified rating about the Klinik Pyramide am See, Zürich

Knee prosthesis revision. Had to be "revised" again after 10 months. Failed craftsmanship. 

About the surgery:

Loosened total prosthesis replaced, worn out ligaments detached. Guided knee TP by Link. Unfortunately, despite pain and problems during the rehab, the treatment was considered final. I was offered a new prosthesis with limited movement or stiffening. (surgeon: Dr. Andreas Oberholzer)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Dec.2020, date of rating: 09.01.2022

 unverified rating about the Merian Iselin Klinik, Basel

From the preliminary anesthetic talk to the operating theater to the nursing staff, you can confidently look forward to your procedure. There was never a hectic rush ... everything was explained in an exemplary manner and in the nursing service you can always feel the love for the job and the patient 

About the surgery:

Robot-assisted knee prosthesis. Very good course. No pain whatsoever! Mobilization on the day of the operation, already four-point walk on the 3rd day. (surgeon: Dr. David Brauers)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Nov.2021, date of rating: 23.11.2021

 unverified rating about the Klinik Villa im Park, Rothrist

Top professional clinic and very good staff. Great kitchen 

About the surgery:

Robotic knee prosthesis (surgeon: Dr. Lukas Schatzmann)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jan.2021, date of rating: 18.07.2021

 unverified rating about the Spital Einsiedeln

great doctors good staff my knee prosthesis does not cause any problems at all 

About the surgery:

No complications (surgeon: Dr. renato sommucal)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Oct.2020, date of rating: 11.03.2021

 unverified rating about the Spital Bülach

Very good doctors, friendly and comprehensive care. Replacement knee joint and hip surgery a few years ago. Both operations went without complications and with perfect results. I would choose the Bülach Hospital again at any time.  (surgeon: Dr. Els)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Feb.2021, date of rating: 11.03.2021

 unverified rating about the Spitäler Schaffhausen (Gruppe)

partially very arrogant staff, easy hearing room, neglected 

About the surgery:

new knee joint, surgery without problems, rapid recovery, friendly physiotherapist (surgeon: Dr. Christoph Brumm)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jun.2020, date of rating: 12.07.2020

 unverified rating about the Hirslanden Klinik Aarau

High risk of infection, got a hospital bug.... 

About the surgery:

Artificial knee joint replaced. Discharged home with wound not yet healed... then infection and re-hospitalisation......untrustworthy

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jun.2019, date of rating: 16.11.2019

 unverified rating about the Klinik Gut St. Moritz

Clinic can not handle mistakes 

About the surgery:

Knee prosthesis, bad result!

transl. from german, date of rating: 30.09.2018

 unverified rating about the Spital Thun

Pleasant stay, as everything was done according to the program. 

About the surgery:

New knee joint, result very good. (surgeon: Dr. Oliver Mini)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jul.2018, date of rating: 30.07.2018

 unverified rating about the Schulthess Klinik, Zürich

Professional treatment, very good service 

About the surgery:

knee prosthesis

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Nov.2017, date of rating: 25.02.2018

 unverified rating about the Kantonsspital St. Gallen

Had an infection on the knee and they saved my knee. 

About the surgery:

I came with a knee infection from an artificial knee joint, and they have inserted a new one and got rid of the infection. A great compliment to the surgery team.

transl. from german, date of rating: 31.10.2017

 unverified rating about the Sonnenhofspital, Bern

It took several hours until the nurse reached a doctor. 

About the surgery:

Knee replacement. With complications.

transl. from german, date of rating: 07.04.2017

 unverified rating about the Privatklinik Lindberg, Winterthur

small fine private hospital - where focus is on the human being 

About the surgery:

2 new knees (surgeon: Dr. Martin Bühler)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jul.2016, date of rating: 09.09.2016

 unverified rating about the Schulthess Klinik, Zürich

In addition to the prosthesis easing after a few weeks, painkillers were injected, to which I responded allergic to, despite previous warning on my part, which resulted in a serious fall 

About the surgery:

artificial knee prosthesis (surgeon: Dr. St. Preiss)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Nov.2012, date of rating: 30.06.2016

 unverified rating about the Kantonsspital Nidwalden, Stans

Super support 

About the surgery:

knee TEP, excellent outcome (surgeon: Dr. Andreas Remiger)

transl. from german, inpatient treatment in Jan.2015, date of rating: 04.12.2015