Finding the right specialist matters when you’re comparing the 10-best-knee-replacement-surgeons-in-the-usa and planning for a major procedure. This guide highlights top surgeons known for excellent outcomes, advanced techniques, and patient-centered care. You’ll also learn key factors like experience, volume, and hospital quality to support a safer, smoother recovery. Read on to educate yourself and use these insights to ask better questions and make a more confident treatment decision.
Choosing a knee replacement surgeon in the United States involves more than scanning a list of names. While many articles highlight the “10 best” surgeons, the reality is that knee arthroplasty is performed safely and effectively by hundreds of high-volume specialists at major centers across the country. Instead of relying only on rankings, patients benefit from understanding what makes a surgeon and hospital truly stand out: consistent outcomes, rigorous training, subspecialized practice, and transparent data.Knee replacement, or knee arthroplasty, is one of the most commonly performed orthopedic procedures, with well-documented success in reducing pain and improving function for advanced arthritis. At the same time, it is still major surgery, and complication risks vary among hospitals and surgeons. Evidence suggests that when patients choose high-volume surgeons working in high-volume centers, they are more likely to experience fewer complications and better long-term function.
For these reasons, when people search for the 10-best-knee-replacement-surgeons-in-the-usa, what they often need is a clear framework for evaluating expertise, as well as representative examples of recognized leaders. The following sections explain how experts are typically identified, provide a sample list of notable surgeons, and outline practical steps for using objective data and thoughtful questions to choose a specialist.
Knowing how to assess surgeon quality can help you move from a generic “top 10” list toward a decision that is tailored to your diagnosis, goals, and overall health status.
How “Top” Knee Replacement Surgeons Are Typically Identified
Lists of leading knee replacement surgeons in the USA are usually built using overlapping criteria. Common factors include:
- Board certification and fellowship training in orthopedic surgery, often with additional specialization in adult reconstruction or joint replacement.
- Procedure volume, both for the individual surgeon and the hospital. High-volume arthroplasty programs tend to show lower complication rates.
- Outcomes and complication data, such as infection rates, readmissions, and revision surgery statistics, when available.
- Academic and research activity, including leadership in clinical trials, implant design, or surgical technique development.
- Involvement in guidelines and professional societies, such as the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons or the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
- Peer recognition, for example through institutional leadership roles, invited lectures, or contributions to textbooks and consensus statements.
Because no single dataset captures all of these dimensions perfectly, any “top 10” list should be viewed as illustrative rather than definitive.
Example: 10 Notable Knee Replacement Surgeons in the USA
The following numbered list represents a sample of widely recognized knee arthroplasty experts across different U.S. centers. It is not exhaustive, and order does not imply ranking. Availability and practice status can change, so patients should always verify current information directly with each institution.
- Thomas P. Sculco, MD – Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY); known for contributions to joint replacement technique and implant design.
- Steven B. Haas, MD – Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY); focuses on minimally invasive and computer-assisted knee arthroplasty.
- Michael A. Mont, MD – Lenox Hill Hospital / Northwell Health (New York, NY); extensive research in joint preservation and complex arthroplasty.
- Richard D. Scott, MD – Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Boston, MA); long-standing influence on modern total knee replacement design and protocols.
- William J. Long, MD – NYU Langone Health (New York, NY); works with robotic-assisted and customized implant approaches.
- Robert L. Barrack, MD – Washington University in St. Louis (St. Louis, MO); recognized for work in revision joint arthroplasty and implant survivorship.
- Cory Calendine, MD – Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee (Franklin, TN); early adopter of robotic and computer-assisted knee replacement systems.
- Adolph V. Lombardi Jr., MD – Ohio Joint Replacement Institute (New Albany, OH); focuses on primary and revision joint replacement with high case volume.
- Michael P. Ast, MD – Hospital for Special Surgery (New York, NY); research interest in perioperative optimization and rapid recovery pathways.
- Michael P. Bolognesi, MD – Duke University Health System (Durham, NC); active in clinical trials and outcomes research for knee and hip arthroplasty.
These surgeons exemplify patterns seen among many leading specialists: subspecialization in adult reconstruction, academic involvement, and participation in large institutional programs with structured perioperative pathways.
Key Factors to Evaluate When Choosing a Surgeon
Beyond any name on a list, several measurable characteristics can guide your decision:
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Experience with your specific procedure
Ask how many total knee replacements (or partial, if applicable) your surgeon performs per year and how long they have been doing the procedure. -
Hospital and surgeon outcomes
When possible, review publicly available metrics such as infection rates, readmission rates, and revision rates. Some hospitals publish registry data or outcomes dashboards. -
Subspecialty training
Surgeons who limit their practice primarily to hip and knee replacement, rather than general orthopedics, may have more concentrated experience. -
Team and care pathway
Outcomes are influenced by anesthesiologists, nursing staff, physical therapists, and standardized protocols for pain control, blood clot prevention, and early mobilization. -
Communication style and shared decision-making
High-quality care includes clear explanations of risks, realistic expectations, alternative treatments, and what recovery will look like for your age and health status.
Understanding Techniques and Technologies
Differences among leading surgeons often involve the techniques and technologies they use. Patients may encounter several options:
- Traditional vs. minimally invasive approaches: Some surgeons use smaller incisions and soft-tissue–sparing methods; these may offer faster early recovery for some patients but must still provide stable, well-aligned implants.
- Robotic-assisted or computer-navigated surgery: These systems can aid in component positioning and alignment. Evidence suggests potential improvements in accuracy; long-term outcome advantages are still being studied.
- Partial (unicompartmental) vs. total knee replacement: For certain patterns of arthritis, preserving more of the native knee with a partial replacement can be appropriate. Not all surgeons perform high volumes of partial replacements.
- Customized implants and patient-specific instrumentation: These approaches use imaging and preoperative planning to tailor components or cutting guides; clinical benefit appears patient- and surgeon-dependent.
When discussing technology, it is useful to ask about your surgeon’s personal results with each technique, not just the technology’s theoretical benefits.
How to Use a “Top 10” List in Your Own Decision-Making
A curated list can be a starting point, but it should not be the only basis for your choice. Consider the following practical steps:
- Use lists of notable surgeons to identify high-volume centers in your region or within a manageable travel radius.
- Check each institution’s website for joint replacement program details, including how many procedures they perform annually and whether they publish outcomes.
- Schedule consultations with more than one surgeon when possible to compare recommendations, communication styles, and proposed care plans.
- Bring a written list of questions about complication risks, recovery milestones, physical therapy, and expected implant lifespan.
- Balance traveling to a national referral center with the benefits of local follow-up care, especially for long-term rehabilitation and any unforeseen issues.
Ultimately, the “best” surgeon for you is one whose training, outcomes, setting, and communication align with your specific medical needs, rather than one who appears on a single ranking.
Conclusion
Evaluating the 10-best-knee-replacement-surgeons-in-the-usa is less about finding a universally agreed-upon ranking and more about understanding what consistently defines excellence in knee arthroplasty. High-volume experience, strong outcomes data, subspecialty training, and integrated hospital systems all contribute to safer surgery and more predictable recovery. Representative experts at major academic and specialty centers illustrate these principles but do not define the full landscape of capable surgeons.
By combining information from top surgeon lists with objective metrics, second opinions, and thoughtful questions, you can make a more informed, individualized choice about where and with whom to have knee replacement surgery. Learn more about how this works next.
References.
- https://www.aaos.org/
- https://www.aahks.org/
- https://www.hss.edu/
- https://www.brighamandwomens.org/
- https://www.dukemedicine.org/
- https://www.wustl.edu/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3435913/
- https://www.cdc.gov/hai/organisms/staph.html
- https://www.medicare.gov/care-compare/