Best knee replacement hospitals by state across the United States: An evidence-based national review

The search for the best knee replacement hospitals by state across the United States requires more than a single national ranking. Available research identifies leading orthopedic centers, state-level award recipients and hospitals recognized for high-performing knee replacement care, while also showing that rankings measure different procedures, populations and outcomes.

How hospital rankings define orthopedic excellence

Healthgrades evaluated approximately 4,500 U.S. hospitals using Medicare inpatient data from 2022 through 2024. Its 2026 Specialty State Rankings examined 18 specialty areas, including Joint Replacement and Orthopedic Surgery, and relied on risk-adjusted outcomes across 31 conditions and procedures. The Orthopedic Surgery Excellence Award includes hip replacement and total knee replacement alongside spine surgery, hip fracture treatment and other orthopedic services. 2

Newsweek’s 2026 specialized-care ranking uses clinical performance, patient outcomes and expert input to compare orthopedic hospitals. Its list specifically identifies hospitals offering knee replacement surgery, but it is broader than a total knee arthroplasty ranking because it also covers ACL reconstruction, ankle surgery, hip replacement, shoulder replacement and nonsurgical orthopedic treatment. 3

National reference hospitals

Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City ranked first in Newsweek’s 2026 orthopedic-care table and lists knee replacement surgery among its standout specialties. Mayo Clinic in Rochester ranked second, while NYU Langone Hospitals and NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital ranked third. Massachusetts General Hospital ranked fourth, and Cleveland Clinic ranked fifth. These results indicate national orthopedic prominence, but they do not establish that every patient will receive the same outcome or that each hospital is the top choice for every diagnosis. 3

The supplied research also identifies Mayo Clinic as widely recognized for patient safety and low complication rates in total knee arthroplasty, while HSS is described as a longstanding national orthopedic leader. These observations should be treated as context rather than guarantees. Surgical results can vary according to patient health, diagnosis, implant selection, surgeon experience, rehabilitation participation and whether the procedure is primary or revision surgery. 10

State-by-state hospitals identified in the research

The following examples organize named hospitals and orthopedic programs by state. They combine national orthopedic rankings, Healthgrades recognition, hospital-reported distinctions and the supplied research notes. The table is not a complete directory of every qualified hospital in the country, and an institution’s inclusion in an orthopedic list does not necessarily mean it received a separate knee-replacement award.

State-level recognition and regional access

Healthgrades reported that Florida had 26 hospitals on its 2026 Top 100 Best Hospitals for Orthopedic Surgery list, the largest number for any state in the cited breakdown. California had 18 named hospitals, while Colorado had three and Alabama had one. Because the list is organized by orthopedic surgery rather than knee replacement alone, it is most useful as a starting point for examining regional surgical capacity and outcomes. 1

Several state examples have more specific knee-replacement evidence. Optim Medical Center-Tattnall was reported as a 2026-2027 U.S. News high-performing hospital for both hip and knee replacement, with a five-star patient-experience score among Georgia hospitals recognized in both categories. WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital also received U.S. News high-performing recognition for knee replacement and reported robotic-assisted procedures using Mako SmartRobotics. 8 5

What outcome measures reveal

Risk adjustment is central to interpreting hospital comparisons because patients arrive with different ages, diagnoses and medical risks. Healthgrades states that its state rankings analyze risk-adjusted complication and mortality rates, while U.S. News describes measures including risk-adjusted mortality, preventable complications and patient experience. These metrics are valuable, but they describe populations and reporting periods rather than guaranteeing an individual surgical result. 2 5

Volume and specialization can provide useful context, although a high procedure count alone does not prove superior care. The supplied research describes Cleveland Clinic as a high-volume knee replacement center and Rush as a major Midwest orthopedic hub. Northwell reported that LIJ Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital with Syosset Hospital were recognized among America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Joint Replacement by Healthgrades, reflecting outcomes in knee and hip replacement surgery. 10 6

Costs, transparency and financial uncertainty

Published hospital prices for total knee replacement vary substantially and can be difficult to compare. A 2026 review of 98 hospitals in 37 states found posted cash prices for CPT 27447 ranging from $1,025 to $60,617, with a median of $5,797. The source cautions that a listed figure may represent only a facility or professional component and may exclude the implant, anesthesia, hospital stay and physical therapy. 7

Another dataset reported a national median negotiated rate of $2,189 for CPT 27447 across 114,745 providers, with rates from $1,503 to $3,152. These figures are not directly interchangeable with a bundled surgical episode, and the same procedure code can reflect different billing arrangements. Financial comparisons therefore require attention to insurance eligibility, network status, surgeon and facility fees, implant costs, rehabilitation, complications and revision care. 9

Questions and safeguards for hospital comparison

Patients evaluating a hospital can distinguish a general orthopedic award from a specific knee-replacement designation, verify whether the data concern primary or revision surgery, and ask how complications, readmissions, infection, rehabilitation and patient-reported outcomes are measured. The Joint Commission provides an Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, which is one formal quality framework, but certification should be considered alongside clinical outcomes and the suitability of the program for the patient’s condition. 11

Important practical risks include infection, blood clots, anesthesia complications, implant failure, persistent pain, reduced mobility and the possibility of revision surgery. Rankings may also exclude hospitals with limited publicly reported data or may combine several orthopedic procedures under one specialty label. A balanced comparison should therefore include the treating surgeon, hospital safety record, care coordination, rehabilitation access, insurance requirements, travel burden and the patient’s own medical eligibility, rather than relying on a single national position.

Sources

1. Becker’s Spine Review, “The 100 best hospitals for orthopedic surgery: Healthgrades”
2. Healthgrades, “Specialty State Rankings Methodology”
3. Newsweek, “America’s Best Hospitals for Specialized Care 2026: Orthopedic Care”
4. U.S. News & World Report, 2026-2027 Best Hospitals announcement
5. WVVA, “WVU Medicine Princeton Community Hospital High Performing in knee replacement”
6. Northwell Health, “Northwell earns top honors in orthopedics from Healthgrades”
7. MedicalPriceCheck.com, “How Much Does a Knee Replacement Cost? 2026 Data”
8. The Advance, “Optim Medical Center-Tattnall Earns U.S. News High Performing Recognition”
9. Momentary Medical Group, “How Much Does a Knee Replacement Surgery Visit Cost?”
10. Supplied orthopedic research notes and referenced hospital sources
11. The Joint Commission, Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement