A common ankle fusion surgery at surgery center facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Outpatient hospital fee for observation & care services
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$2,755 |
Orthopedic surgeon visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$132 |
Provider fee to fuse ankle joint
simple
Standard
|
1 |
$1,332 |
Facility |
Surgery center fee to fuse ankle joint
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$10,561 |
Imaging |
Radiology fee for MRI of hip, knee, or ankle joint
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$320 |
Radiology fee for ankle x-ray
2 views
Standard
|
1 |
$45 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 2
Standard
|
1 |
$134 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
400 |
$800 |
Total average cash price |
|
A common ankle fusion surgery at outpatient hospital facility in U.S. includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Outpatient hospital fee for observation & care services
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$2,755 |
Orthopedic surgeon visit provider fee
First time visit
Standard
|
1 |
$132 |
Provider fee to fuse ankle joint
simple
Standard
|
1 |
$1,332 |
Facility |
Outpatient Hospital fee to fuse ankle joint
level 5
Standard
|
1 |
$14,876 |
Imaging |
Radiology fee for MRI of hip, knee, or ankle joint
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$320 |
Radiology fee for ankle x-ray
2 views
Standard
|
1 |
$45 |
Prescriptions |
HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN
Standard
Standard
|
30 |
$16 |
Anesthesia |
Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure
Level 2
Standard
|
1 |
$134 |
Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure
Per minute
Standard
|
400 |
$800 |
Total average cash price |
|
Ankle fusion surgery is also known as “ankle arthrodesis.” This is the medical term for locking a joint in place by anchoring the bones on both sides of the joint together. Orthopedic surgeons perform ankle fusions for conditions that make it difficult to walk because of pain in the ankle or loss of function of the ankle.
Several conditions can cause severe pain in the ankle and lead to disability due to the severity of pain alone. Ankle fusion surgery can eliminate this pain. The most common painful conditions treated with ankle fusion surgery are:
- Severe rheumatoid or osteoarthritis
- Repeated severe ankle sprains
- Severe trauma
Other conditions may not be painful but may make it difficult to walk. The most common conditions that lead to difficulty walking and can be treated with ankle fusion surgery are:
- Congenital abnormalities of the ankle
- Foot drop
Ankle fusion surgery can be significantly painful in the first few days following surgery. Therefore, your surgeon may keep you in the hospital for the first few days following surgery to ensure that your pain is under control. After this stay in the hospital, you will be discharged home on oral medication to help control pain.
After the first few weeks, your pain will significantly decrease. Attending physical therapy and your follow-up visits with your surgeon is critical to ensuring that your pain is under control.
Recovery from ankle fusion surgery takes several weeks. You will need to wear a splint to protect the ankle for three to four weeks and use crutches for up to two months. You will also require physical therapy and several follow-up visits with your surgeon to monitor your recovery. Ankle fusion surgery takes longer to recover from than more common surgeries because your foot needs to be elevated, and you cannot bear weight for a short time after the surgery.
You will be able to walk normally after you recover from your ankle fusion. The significant decrease in pain will often lead to a dramatic improvement in your ability to walk compared to before the surgery.
Ankle fusion surgery decreases the ability of your foot to move up and down. The medical term for these movements is “plantarflexion” and “dorsiflexion.” This reduced movement can make walking up steep inclines and running more difficult. However, these limitations generally do not bother patients as they typically could not do these activities before ankle fusion surgery.
You will have no problem driving after ankle fusion surgery. For the first few weeks, driving may be difficult due to your ankle brace and pain. After you have healed from your ankle fusion, there will be no limitations to your ability to drive.
If you drive a commercial vehicle such as a semi-truck, construction equipment, or bus, you will need a complete physical before returning to work. Typically, you will not be allowed to drive until you are fully recovered, but you should have no limitations after recovery.
Immediately after the surgery, your shoe choice will be limited. You will be in a large walking boot the first several days after the surgery. After the swelling and pain from the surgery decreases, you will be in a brace that can be worn with loose boots or sneakers for several weeks.
What shoes you can wear after recovering from your ankle fusion depends on your specific case. Boots, sandals, sneakers, and dress shoes, and pumps are almost always comfortable to wear. High heels are challenging to wear due to the reduced range of motion of the ankle after surgery.
About the ankle fusion surgery Average Cash Prices
This procedure is most commonly performed at either a surgery center or an outpatient hospital.
Surgery centers, also known as ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), are independent, licensed medical
facilities that are governed by distinct regulatory requirements compared with a hospital. Procedures
performed at an ASCs are often less expensive than when they are performed at an outpatient hospital,
but they typically offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full-range of support
services that a hospital provides.
Outpatient facilities are outpatient departments or clinics that may be within or next to a hospital,
but is owned and run by the affiliated hospital. These facilities can perform surgical treatments and
procedures that do not require an overnight stay. Procedures performed at an outpatient hospital are
often more expensive than when they are performed in an ambulatory surgery center, but outpatient
hospitals may offer more complimentary and support services for patients because they are connected to
the hospital system.
