How Much Does Ankle Surgery Cost?


Written by:  Howmuchisit.org Staff

The main goal of ankle surgery is to allow the ankle to heal with a normal shape again.  Whenever an ankle is found to be fractured, then surgery may be required to repair the ankle.

plaster cast, leg in plaster by marktristan, on Flickr
plaster cast, leg in plaster” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by marktristan

How much does ankle surgery cost?

Without any health insurance, diagnosing your ankle and creating a treatment plan can cost about $500 to $1,200 for just the doctor’s visit and ankle x-rays.  The costs will come down to your geographical location, the severity of your injury, your insurance company, the doctor you use and the type of treatment required.  An ankle x-ray, for example, can cost $200 to more than $1,000 at a specialized radiology center.  If a cast were needed, for example, then costs could be in the $1,500 to $2,500 range.  A cast is often recommended for those who have experienced moderate ankle sprains.  On the other hand, a simple sprain could require a simple wrap and will cost no more than $100.

Our cost estimates mentioned above should include the facility fee, bone setting, casts, x-rays, CTs, MRIs, anesthesia and/or any prescription drugs required during the treatment; however, these costs could be billed separately, depending on what the hospital’s billing policy is.

A sprained ankle, for example, could cost up to $1,498 at a local emergency room, according to HealingFeet.com.  At a podiatry clinic, however, the costs could be much cheaper, about $400 to $500.

As for surgery, the costs for a broken ankle, without insurance, will be in the $6,000 to $25,000+ range, depending on the doctor, hospital and where you live.  Insurance will cover the procedure only if it’s deemed medically necessary.

Health insurance will often cover ankle surgery and will depend on your insurance company’s level of coverage.  Some insurance companies may require you to try physical therapy, for example, before you even consider surgery.  Most doctors will tell you ankle surgery is almost always the last resort to take because many ankle conditions can be treated with conservative treatments.

Type of Ankle SurgeryAverage Cost (without insurance)
Achilles Repair$5,000 to $10,000
Ankle Fusion Surgery$4,000 to $9,000
Ankle Replacement$40,000+
Brostrum Ligament Reconstruction$5,000 to $10,000
ORIF Ankle Fracture$3,900 to $11,000

Ankle surgery overview

A mild to moderate ankle sprain will almost always require a compression wrap and brace.

Non-surgical treatment for an ankle fracture, on the other hand, will either require a brace or a cast in severe circumstances.

For surgical procedures, wires, screws and/or other hardware will be used to hold the bones in place while healing.  Depending on your circumstances, the treatment plan will depend on the severity of the fracture.

What are the extra costs?

Before a doctor even considers ankle surgery, he or she will want to take x-rays, and/or an MRI to confirm the fracture and the best course of action.  With this x-ray or MRI, they will be able if the bone has been fractured or the ligament has been torn.  Most injuries, whether it’s a sprain or fracture, can often be treated conservatively without any sort of surgery.

Emergency room visits can increase the price by more than a few thousand dollars since you would incur an emergency room visit fee, doctor fee and the price of any supplies used during the visit.

Crutches will more than likely be required after just about any treatment.  A basic pair will cost about $20 to $45.

Physical therapy, depending on your circumstances, may be needed to gain your strength and balance again.  Several sessions will be necessary, with the average session costing $50 to $125+ per session without insurance.

As noted above, the estimate may or may not include the following:  the facility fee, bone setting, casts, x-rays, CTs, MRIs, anesthesia and/or any prescription drugs.

Is my ankle sprained or broken?

According to Dr. Rami Calis, if you have pain around the soft tissue areas but not over the bone, then it’s safe to say it’s a sprain.  He also recommends the “RICE” method:  rest, ice, compression and elevate.  If, after four days, it’s still in pain, it’s time to see a doctor.

If the pain is over the ankle bone, then it could be a break.  The same could be said if you have a hard time walking or putting pressure on it.

A sign of a broken ankle, at least according to The Survival Doctor, can often be determined when you twist your ankle and feel lasting pain.

How can I save money?

Some hospitals may offer a discount to those who meet certain income guidelines or pay up front in cash.  Talk with the hospital’s finance department for more information to see if you qualify.

While it may be tempting to head to the emergency room if you were to “fracture” your ankle, you may want to consider a 24/7 urgent care center as this can be up to 80 percent cheaper than your local hospital.


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Average Reported Cost: $1142.5

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Less Expensive $1 $1.5K $3K $5K $6.5K More Expensive $8k

How much did you spend?

Was it worth it?  

  1. Larry Owens (Gilbert,  Arizona) paid $570 and said:

    Only paid co-pay. Medicare @ $190.00 A night 3 days. Driving me nuts I can walk on both feet yet OR Drive .

    Was it worth it? Yes

  2. Abby Parker (Rochester,  New York) paid $ and said:

    Sure, that’s one way of looking at it to cure a sprained ankle. But on some cases, physical therapy, home remedies like rest, icing your foot, compression, and elevating your leg would help to gain your strength and balance again. Also, a mild to moderate ankle sprain can be cured by a compression wrap, brace, or even cast. Unfortunately, when the injury involves a fractured ankle, then surgery may be needed.

    Was it worth it? Yes

  3. B Rowan (Dallas,  Texas) paid $3000 and said:

    This 3K is what I paid for the initial fracture. ER visit and Podiatry cost. My fracture has not healed and now I have to have surgery to remove the bone and have ligament repair done. (lateral malleolus fracture) Surgery is Avulsion fracture bone removal and ligament repair, I do not know the cost of surgery, yet.

    Was it worth it? Yes

  4. James Kischer (Omaha,  Nebraska) paid $1000 and said:

    $1000 for x-ray on swollen ankle was not broken checked blood for diabetes and any other causes. They didn’t even help the pain and gave me a boot to wear. Health insurance did not help until I would meet a $3000 deductible so I ended up paying all of it. What a rip-off.

    Was it worth it? Yes

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