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Sports medicine · 2026

ACL, rotator cuff
and cartilage repair, half the US cost.

Arthroscopic ACL reconstruction from $5,500. Rotator cuff repair from $5,500. Cartilage and meniscus surgery, hip arthroscopy, and regenerative add-ons at China's top arthroscopy centres. Bilingual rehab plan included.

Get a written quote Top arthroscopy centres

$5,500–9,500

ACL reconstruction

All-in vs $20,000–35,000 in the US

Partner clinic quotes 2024

Class A

Top centres

Jishuitan, Peking University Third, Huashan

NHC ratings

Arthrex

+ Smith & Nephew

Same arthroscopy implants used in Western centres

Manufacturer data

10–14

Days typical stay

Includes pre-op, surgery and start of rehab

Industry guidance

Bilingual

Rehab plan

12-week structured protocol for home-team handover

Service standard

PRP add-on

Regenerative

PRP injection alongside surgery — modest evidence base

AAOS guidance

Tiers & pricing

Six tiers, transparent pricing.

Most common

ACL reconstruction (arthroscopic)

Hamstring or BTB autograft. Single-bundle or anatomic double-bundle option. 2–3 day stay.

$5,500–9,500

Shoulder

Rotator cuff repair

Arthroscopic single or double-row repair. Anchor systems from Arthrex or Smith & Nephew.

$5,500–10,500

Knee

Meniscus repair / partial meniscectomy

Meniscus-preserving repair where feasible; partial meniscectomy for irreparable tears.

$3,500–6,500

Specialist

Cartilage repair (MACI / OATS)

Matrix-induced autologous chondrocyte implantation or osteochondral autograft transfer.

$8,500–14,500

Hip

Hip arthroscopy (FAI / labrum)

Femoroacetabular impingement correction + labral repair. Specialist centres only.

$7,500–12,500

Regenerative

PRP injection (adjunct)

Platelet-rich plasma intra-articular or peri-tendinous. Adjunct to surgery or conservative care.

$280–650 / session

Top hospitals

Six centres
open to international patients.

Beijing

Beijing Jishuitan Hospital 北京积水潭医院

China's leading orthopedic specialty · large arthroscopy and sports medicine service

Beijing

Peking University Third Hospital 北京大学第三医院

Sports medicine reference · Olympic team support · arthroscopy + cartilage program

Shanghai

Huashan Hospital, Fudan University 华山医院

Class A · strong sports medicine and shoulder program · regenerative trial site

Shanghai

Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital 上海第六人民医院

Class A · microsurgery and sports orthopedics · cartilage repair program

Hong Kong

Hong Kong Sanatorium & Hospital (HKSH)

Private sports medicine flagship · English-first · same-day surgery option

Guangzhou

Guangzhou Sport University Affiliated Hospital

Sports-medicine specialty · athlete rehabilitation programs

Cost comparison

China vs US vs UK,
real pricing.

China
United States
United Kingdom
ACL reconstruction (arthroscopic)
$5,500–$9,500
$20,000–$35,000
£8,500–£14,000
Rotator cuff repair
$5,500–$10,500
$18,000–$32,000
£8,000–£14,000
Meniscus repair
$3,500–$6,500
$15,000–$25,000
£5,500–£10,000
Cartilage repair (MACI)
$8,500–$14,500
$30,000–$50,000
£15,000–£25,000
Hip arthroscopy (FAI)
$7,500–$12,500
$25,000–$45,000
£11,000–£18,000

Sources: AAOS published rates 2024, NHS / Bupa UK 2024, partner-hospital itemized quotes 2024–2025. Pricing indicative; excludes airfare, accommodation and complications.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions.

Why is China credible for sports medicine?
Class A teaching hospitals (Jishuitan, Peking University Third) supported the Chinese national team and Olympic team for decades — the surgeons treat both elite athletes and weekend warriors. Arthroscopy implant brands match Western centres (Arthrex, Smith & Nephew, DePuy Mitek). Recovery protocols follow MOON / MARS network and ISAKOS guidance. Volume and surgeon experience often exceed comparable Western private practices.
How long do I need to stay?
Indicative stays: ACL reconstruction 10–14 days (surgery + start of rehab + safe-to-fly); rotator cuff 10–14 days; meniscus repair 7–10 days; cartilage transplant 14–18 days; hip arthroscopy 10–14 days. Long-haul flights are usually cleared at 7–10 days post-op with compression and walking-every-90-minutes guidance. Full return-to-sport is 6–9 months for ACL, 4–6 months for rotator cuff, depending on rehab adherence.
What about graft choice for ACL?
Hamstring (semitendinosus / gracilis) autograft is the most common at our partners — quad-strand or 5/6-strand depending on body habitus. Bone-patellar-tendon-bone (BTB) autograft is offered for high-demand pivoting athletes. Quad tendon autograft is increasingly available. Allograft is used selectively, e.g. revision cases. Discuss graft choice with your surgeon — there is no universally best answer.
What does post-op rehab look like?
Bilingual 12-week structured rehab plan included with every surgical case — phase 1 (0–2 weeks): pain control, swelling, ROM; phase 2 (2–6 weeks): progressive strength; phase 3 (6–12 weeks): functional and proprioceptive; phase 4 (12+ weeks): sport-specific. We hand off to your home physiotherapist with the plan in their language. For surgery + 2-week rehab packages we coordinate at the partner hospital's in-house rehab unit.
What about PRP, stem cell and other regenerative options?
PRP has modest published evidence for adjunctive use in tendinopathy and post-arthroscopy recovery — we offer it where the surgeon judges it adds value. Stem-cell injection for joint and tendon problems remains investigational; we present it as such and decline to recommend it as first-line therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen for elective sports recovery is not evidence-based and we do not include it.
What if I'm an elite or competitive athlete?
We coordinate dedicated programs at Peking University Third and Huashan for athletes — including expedited workup, performance-grade rehab planning, and sport-specific return-to-play testing. Anti-doping status of intra-operative or peri-operative medication is reviewed against the WADA Prohibited List before any therapy. Documentation for federation submissions is provided bilingually.

Related guides

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Hip, knee, spine procedures alongside arthroscopy.

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Back Pain

Spine arthroscopy and conservative options.

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Stem Cell for Joints

Regenerative options with honest evidence framing.

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Post-Op Care

Rehab plan and home-team handover after surgery.

Read the guide

Medical Companion

Bilingual companions for clinic and rehab visits.

Read the guide

Second Opinion

Independent surgical second opinion from $250.

Read the guide

Send your MRI
get an arthroscopy plan.

Upload your MRI and clinic letter. We return a written surgical plan from a partner sports surgeon — including graft choice, expected recovery timeline and sport-specific return-to-play protocol.

Request a quote See cost comparison

This page is for general information only and does not constitute medical advice. Sports medicine outcomes depend on individual factors and rehab adherence. All clinical decisions are made by the treating surgeon.