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Cost of stapes surgery

The average cash price for stapes surgery care is $5,588 at a surgery center versus $8,843 at an outpatient hospital. While a surgery center may offer fewer complimentary services, and may not have the full range of support services that outpatient hospital provides, it may still be worth the (37%) you'd save when comparing the cost of stapes surgery performed at an outpatient hospital. Read More

Average cash price in U.S.

A common stapes surgery at surgery center facility in U.S. includes

  Units Avg Cash price

Provider

Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee

First time visit Standard
1 $148

Provider fee to incise (cut) or remove ear bone

With drilling Standard
1 $1,547

Facility

Surgery center fee to incise (cut) or remove ear bone

Standard Standard
1 $2,809

Imaging

Radiology fee for CT scan of ear

Standard Standard
1 $314

Prescriptions

HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN

Standard Standard
30 $16

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure

Level 3 Standard
1 $202

Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure

Per minute Standard
276 $552
Total average cash price   $5,587.50

A common stapes surgery at outpatient hospital facility in U.S. includes

  Units Avg Cash price

Provider

Ear, nose, & throat doctor visit provider fee

First time visit Standard
1 $148

Provider fee to incise (cut) or remove ear bone

With drilling Standard
1 $1,547

Facility

Outpatient Hospital fee to incise (cut) or remove ear bone

level 5 Standard
1 $6,064

Imaging

Radiology fee for CT scan of ear

Standard Standard
1 $314

Prescriptions

HYDROCODONE-ACETAMINOPHEN

Standard Standard
30 $16

Anesthesia

Anesthesiologist fee to be "put under" for procedure

Level 3 Standard
1 $202

Anesthesiologist time to be "put under" for procedure

Per minute Standard
276 $552
Total average cash price   $8,842.50

A stapedectomy involves removing part of or the entire stapes bone and replacing it with a prosthesis. This tiny bone, the closest bone to the inner ear, transmits sound waves to the inner ear from the middle ear. Stapedectomy surgery is performed to restore this transmission of sound waves to improve hearing. 

There are several reasons you might need to undergo a stapedectomy. For instance, if you sustained a stapes bone fracture due to a traumatic accident or have a congenital abnormality of the stapes. 

However, the most common reason for getting a stapedectomy is otosclerosis, the abnormal growth of extra bones around the stapes. These extra bones stop the stapes from vibrating, so it cannot transmit sound waves, leading to hearing loss. 

Whether you need a stapedectomy or other ear treatment, it is vital you have your health insurance in order. Sidecar Health allows you to define your coverage, putting you in charge of your health.

Stapedectomies are generally performed as outpatient procedures and typically take around 90 minutes. You are usually given a local anesthetic during the procedure, so you are numb to any pain and relaxed but not asleep.

As with any surgical procedure, having a stapedectomy comes with its risks. These are:

  • As the nerve that innervates the facial muscles passes through the ear, there is a small chance it could get damaged during the surgery causing partial or complete facial paralysis.
  • There is a low risk of hearing loss which can be permanent and complete.
  • Temporary dizziness that lasts for a few days after the surgery.

Initially, you may have an earache or headache and experience some dizziness after the surgery.

Your ear will feel blocked for a week after the surgery due to the cotton or gauze packing in the ear canal. After removing the packing, you may notice some bloody fluid draining from the ear for a day or so.

Some patients report immediate improvement of their hearing after the surgery, but for most, it takes two to four weeks and continues improving some two months post-op. At first, your ears may be extra sensitive to noise, so you should avoid noisy places.

It’s important to give yourself time to rest during your recovery, and one way to reduce stress related to the operation is to ensure you are covered by health insurance that works for you.

For the first two weeks after surgery, mild, intermittent discomfort is to be expected. It is also normal to experience pain above or in front of the ear while chewing. 

However, if you experience persistent ear pain that is not relieved by over-the-counter painkillers, you should consult your doctor as it may indicate post-operative infection.

A successful stapedectomy is defined as a closed air-bone gap (ABG) of less than 10dB. Depending on the condition for which you are receiving surgery, studies have shown that the success rate can vary between 95% for obliterative otosclerosis and 64.7% for simultaneous malleus ankylosis. 

Pediatric stapedectomy is performed successfully 93.5% of the time, while the success rate for seniors is approximately 94.5%.

For a week or so after surgery, avoid bending over or making sudden movements as they can cause dizziness.

You should avoid strenuous exercise for two to four weeks after your surgery. Likewise, lifting anything that could make you strain -including groceries or a child- should be avoided until your doctor gives you the go-ahead. 

You should not get your ear wet for four to six weeks after the operation (wear a soft silicone earplug in the shower, not hard plastic) and should not go in an airplane.

About the stapes 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.

* Savings estimate based on a study of more than 1 billion claims comparing self-pay (or cash pay) prices of a frequency-weighted market basket of procedures to insurer-negotiated rates for the same. Claims were collected between July 2017 and July 2019. R.Lawrence Van Horn, Arthur Laffer, Robert L.Metcalf. 2019. The Transformative Potential for Price Transparency in Healthcare: Benefits for Consumers and Providers. Health Management Policy and Innovation, Volume 4, Issue 3.

Sidecar Health offers and administers a variety of plans including ACA compliant and excepted benefit plans. Coverage and plan options may vary or may not be available in all states.

Your actual costs may be higher or lower than these cost estimates. Check with your provider and health plan details to confirm the costs that you may be charged for a service or procedure.You are responsible for costs that are not covered and for getting any pre-authorizations or referrals required by your health plan. Neither payments nor benefits are guaranteed. Provider data, including price data, provided in part by Turquoise Health.

The site is not a substitute for medical or healthcare advice and does not serve as a recommendation for a particular provider or type of medical or healthcare.