Tom mentioned something about holding out for the new 30 year artificial knee, this in a thread of a year or so back about
artificial knees. This group in Vermont seem to have a pretty good facility and routine, certainly sounds cutting edge to my innocent ears.
New Knee Implant Option - VERILAST Knee Technology from Smith & Nephew - Fletcher Allen
This site has some information about knee replacement surgery abroad:
Knee replacement cost - cost of knee replacement surgery
Estimated cost of knee replacement surgery:
Country Price (USD)
United States $45,000-$60,000
Singapore $18,000-$22,500
Thailand $12,000-$14,200
Taiwan $9,000 - $10,100
India $7,000 - $11,200
I'm guessing that you're not necessarily going to get the latest hardware and procedures in India or Taiwan, or any of them for that matter. But I might be wrong on that. Bears investigation.