How Much Does Finger Surgery Cost?
Finger surgery may be needed for either a broken or injured finger and may even be required if there are ligaments that need to be repaired or bones that are badly broken that need to be pinned together in order to heal correctly. Finger surgery will be recommended by your doctor if he or she thinks it is absolutely necessary.
How much is it?
- The cost of finger surgery will greatly depend on the situation. A dislocated finger or simple fracture, which often doesn’t require “surgery” will cost less than $1,200 by the time you factor in the doctor’s exam, x-ray and the facility fee. A finger x-ray alone, for instance, can cost close to $250.
- If a surgical procedure were required, such as realigning the finger, then costs could be closer to $4,500 to $13,000, depending on the hospital and surgeon performing the procedure. Trigger finger surgery, also known as tenosing tenosynovitis, is a condition where the finger will get stuck in a bent condition. This commonly performed procedure will cost close to $3,000 to $5,500, according to our research at local hospitals.
- PricingHealthCare.com, for example, says the average finger tendon repair can cost $3,225. A fracture, with one to two pins, could cost $3,600.
What is going to be included?
- If the finger were dislocated, a local anesthesia will be used and the doctor will manipulate and the finger to align the joints, followed by applying a splint. This surgery will always be performed in an outpatient center. In the case of a fracture, a surgeon will need to insert pins or screws to hold the bones in place while the finger heals. Depending on the situation, a general anesthesia may be required.
- Most procedures will be done in an outpatient center and no overnight hospital stay will be required.
Types of finger pain
- A delayed union occurs when the fracture takes longer to recover than expected.
- A malunion happens when the break heals in a wrong or poor position. If this bothers or hampers hand function, further surgery is likely required.
- Non-union refers to the break that fails to heal even beyond the expected period of healing. This, also, may require additional procedures.
- Infection. An infected bone is referred to as osteomyelitis, a condition that can be very difficult to treat and may even result in a finger amputation if the infection worsens
- Stiffness is a common occurrence as a result of splinting and the fracture itself. However, this condition may be reduced with the aid of physiotherapy.
- Pain. Even properly-healed fractures may occasionally cause you tingling pain, especially during cold weather and when the hand performs heavy work.
What are the extra costs?
- If anesthesia is required during the surgery, this is often a separate bill outside of the hospital charges. Anesthesia, on average, can cost up to $1,500 or more.
- While most doctor’s offices try to bundle everything into an itemized bill, it’s not uncommon to see other bills come in the mail such as the surgeon’s bill, hospital stay, x-rays and prescriptions.
- Emergency situations, if performed at an emergency room, can be thousands more.
Tips to know:
- Let the doctor assess the situation first and let them decide whether or not surgery is needed. Make sure that you ask questions about the condition of the finger and what other options may be done to avoid having to undergo surgery. Most of the time, a simple finger splint can solve the problem.
- It should be noted that any surgery that involves skin incision may result in unsightly scarring, bleeding, or wound infection.
How can I save money?
- To save money, check with your insurance provider to see if the procedure will be covered; if so, see what you may be responsible for. If you do not have a health insurance policy, highly consider finding policies through services such as eHealthInsurance.com.
- As long as it’s not an emergency, talk with a few hospitals over the phone to see what the surgery may cost. Most will be able to offer a ballpark estimate.
- Cash paying patients often can see discounts of up to 50 percent.
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