A common joint aspiration at surgery center facility in Alaska includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Provider fee for joint injection and/or fluid removal (using suction)
Without Ultrasound
Standard
|
1 |
$66 |
Facility |
Surgery center fee for joint injection and/or fluid removal (using suction)
Standard
Standard
|
1 |
$40 |
Total average cash price |
|
A common joint aspiration at outpatient hospital facility in Alaska includes
| |
Units |
Avg Cash price |
Provider |
Provider fee for joint injection and/or fluid removal (using suction)
Without Ultrasound
Standard
|
1 |
$66 |
Facility |
Outpatient Hospital fee to remove fluid from a finger or toe's joint using suction
level 1
Standard
|
1 |
$415 |
Total average cash price |
|
Joint aspiration or arthrocentesis is a procedure to remove fluid from around the joint space. This procedure is most often performed on the knee joint but can also be done for other joints such as the hip, ankle, shoulder, or wrist.
Joint aspiration is used to diagnose or treat joint disorders, such as gout, arthritis, and joint infections. In some conditions, extra fluid builds up in the joint space. Removing the fluid relieves pressure and pain and will allow the joint to move better. At the same time, a sample of the fluid can be analyzed to diagnose joint conditions, and medicine can be placed into the joint space that will help with pain and inflammation.
During the procedure, your healthcare provider will clean the skin over the aspiration site with an antiseptic. Next, a small needle attached to a syringe is inserted into the joint space. Fluid in the joint will be pulled out into the syringe. Sometimes medication will be instilled into the joint space after the fluid is withdrawn. After the needle is removed, a small bandage or dressing will be applied.
Joint aspiration is usually done when a joint becomes swollen and painful. Aspirating the fluid allows for the release of the build-up of pressure-causing pain and allows fluid to be sent for proper diagnosis. If your healthcare provider feels like giving medicine into the joint space will help your pain, it will be done during an aspiration.
Joint swelling or fluid build-up can be caused by several conditions, including:
- Osteoarthritis
- Rheumatoid arthritis
- Gout
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Septic arthritis
- Joint injuries
- Tendinitis
Many different types of healthcare providers are trained to perform joint aspiration. These include orthopedic specialists, rheumatologists, and sports medicine providers. Some primary care providers, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, and emergency specialists are also trained to perform joint aspiration.
Many patients can resume normal activities immediately after a joint aspiration. In some cases, your healthcare provider may advise you to rest the joint for 24 hours. Local anesthetics tend to wear off about 2-4 hours after the procedure, and you may have an achy sensation later in the day of the injection. Your provider will let you know if it is okay to take over-the-counter medicines. Sometimes you may be instructed to use a compression bandage (ACE) and apply ice to the aspirated joint.
It will be up to your healthcare provider to decide if it is okay for you to drive after a knee aspiration. In some cases, medication may be placed into the joint space, and you may be asked to avoid driving and rest the joint for up to 24 hours.
About the joint aspiration 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.
