Travelling safely with an artificial joint | Swiss Medical Network

23.07.2025

Travelling with an artificial joint: what to keep in mind after prosthetic surgery

When is it safe for you to travel again after joint replacement surgery, and what do you need to bear in mind? Dr Rolf Luginbühl answers the most important questions about travelling with a prosthesis.

Most patients want to get back to their normal everyday lives as quickly as possible after prosthetic surgery. This also applies to travelling. But when is the right time to do so and what do you need to bear in mind so as not to jeopardise your recovery? Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Rolf Luginbühl from the Impuls Clinic in Wetzikon explains how to do the right thing.

When can I travel again after prosthetic surgery?

Dr. Luginbühl: A planned trip should not interfere with rehabilitation and thus limit the final result. It is therefore not advisable to travel before the first follow-up appointment, which usually takes place six to eight weeks after the procedure. The course of recovery varies greatly from person to person. After the first follow-up appointment, you may still need walking sticks or the pain may persist for a little longer. For this reason, it is advisable to plan your first holiday at least three months after the operation. If healing progresses quickly, it may be possible to travel earlier, after consulting your doctor.

What activities are suitable?

Dr Luginbühl: The restrictions when travelling are basically the same as at home and depend on the stage of rehabilitation. Activities should be chosen so that they can be adapted if symptoms occur.

Overdoing it – for example, on long hikes – can lead to tendon inflammation, which then requires longer rehabilitation. Sitting for long periods without being able to stand up immediately can also be painful in the first few months. Fresh surgical scars should be covered or at least protected with sunscreen when sunbathing during the first year.

Should I arrange a check-up before going on a long trip?

Dr. Luginbühl: No. Travelling should not interfere with normal post-operative check-ups. However, an additional check-up before a long trip is not necessary.

What do I need to bear in mind at airport security?

Dr. Luginbühl: The prosthesis passport issued after the operation is not an official document. If the prosthesis is detected by the metal detector, which is usually the case, a personal examination will be carried out by security personnel. This cannot usually be avoided, even if you carry X-ray images or surgical reports with you. However, as there are many passengers with artificial joints, the checks usually are unproblematically.

How can I reduce the risk of thrombosis when travelling?

Dr. Luginbühl: Support stockings and getting up occasionally help to reduce the risk of thrombosis on long journeys. Whether additional medication to prevent thrombosis is advisable depends not only on the joint replacement surgery but also on other medical factors and should be discussed with your family doctor.

Our expert

Dr Rolf Luginbühl is a specialist in orthopaedics and traumatology (FMH) and a specialist in knee and hip prosthetics. He has been working at the Impuls orthopaedic practice in Wetzikon since 2011. He performs surgery on patients receiving artificial knee or hip joints at the Rosenklinik, among other places, in line with agile+®.

Doctor CV

Klinik Impuls

Knee arthroplasty at Swiss Medical Network

Swiss Medical Network offers highly specialised prosthetic centres and clinics all over Switzerland. We work with the latest robotics and AI technologies and were the first clinic group in Switzerland to introduce the agile+® fast-track prosthetics procedure.

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ROSA® (Robotic Surgery Assistant) collects precise data and numerous details relating to the patient's anatomy before and during orthopaedic knee replacement surgery. This allows the implant to be positioned even more precisely and puts less strain on the knee.

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VELYS™ is used in robot-assisted surgery. It supports the surgeon in making precise incisions and adapting implants even more precisely to the patient's individual anatomy.

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agile+®

agile+® is a highly specialised prosthetics programme by Rosenklinik focusing on a patient-centred treatment which relies on the cornerstones knowledge, movement and care in all phases of recovery. A care management team acts as a link between the patient, specialists, physiotherapy and, if necessary, Spitex or rehabilitation clinic. agile+® significantly shortens the length of hospital stays in comparison to the rest of Switzerland and ensures that patients recover in the best possible way.

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