Broken Leg Cost

How Much Does a Broken Leg Cost?

With Insurance: Copays & Coinsurance up to Out of Pocket Maximum

Non-surgical Treatment: $2,000+

Surgical Treatment: $17,000-$35,000+

Typical costs:

Without health insurance, non-surgical treatment for a broken leg typically costs up to $2,500 or more for a fracture that requires a cast. A leg X-ray costs an average of $210, according to NewChoiceHealth.com[1] , but can cost as much as $1,000 or more at some radiology centers. And application of a short or long leg cast costs about $221 to $238, not including the doctor fee, according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[2] in Lincoln, Nebraska. A typical doctor fee for non-surgical treatment of a fracture would include $90 to $200 for the office visit and from $250 to $950 for treatment, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates[3] .
Without health insurance, surgical treatment of a broken leg typically costs $17,000 to $35,000 or more. For example, at the Kapiolani Medical Center in Hawaii, repair of an uncomplicated leg fracture[4] costs about $16,082, while repair of a complicated leg fracture[5] costs about $33,565, not including the surgeon's fee. A typical surgeon's fee could reach $2,000 or more, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates[6] .
A broken leg generally would be covered by health insurance. With health insurance, typical expenses for treatment for a broken leg could include doctor visit copays and treatment coinsurance that could reach thousands of dollars or the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.

What should be included:

For a hairline fracture or less complicated fracture, the doctor would realign the bones (called a "reduction") if necessary, then place a plaster cast on the leg; depending on the location of the break, this could be a short leg cast or a full leg cast.
For surgical treatment, the patient typically would be placed under general anesthesia; then, the surgeon would make an incision and place screws and/or other hardware to hold the bones in place during healing.
The Mayo Clinic[7] has an overview of treatments typically used for a broken leg. Recovery typically takes at least six to eight weeks, according to WebMD[8] .

Additional costs:

Going to an emergency room for treatment initially could add $1,000 to $2,000 or more to the final bill; costs would include an emergency room visit fee, an emergency room doctor fee and the cost of a temporary cast such as an air cast; the patient would then need to seek treatment from a specialist.
Crutches cost about $15 to $40 for a basic pair or up to $100 or more for deluxe forearm crutches.
Physical therapy might be necessary to help regain strength and balance. Several sessions per week at $50 to $75 per hour for six to eight weeks could cost $1,000 or more.
For patients who have a broken bone treated surgically, metal hardware usually can be left in, unless it causes irritation; if removal is required, it can cost between $2,533 and $11,710 or more, according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center[9] in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Discounts:

Some orthopedic specialists offer discounts for uninsured/cash paying patients. For example, Southern California Orthopedic Institute offers discounted services for cash-paying patients, and Northwest Community Hospital Orthopedic Services Center[10] , in Chicago, offers discounts for prompt payment.
Some free clinics, such as Community Health Free Clinic[11] in Chicago, offer orthopedic specialty care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services[12] offers a directory of federally funded health centers; if the nearest clinic doesn't offer orthopedic care, ask for a referral.

Shopping for a broken leg:

The general practitioner can refer the patient to a specialist. Or, the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery[13] offers an orthopedic surgeon finder by city, state or zip code. If the break resulted from a sports injury, the patient could seek treatment from a sports medicine specialist, which could be either a family physician or an orthopedic surgeon; the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine[14] has a doctor finder.
If surgery is required, risks include: reaction to anesthesia, infection, blood clots, reaction to hardware and even death.

Material on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as medical advice. Always consult your physician or pharmacist regarding medications or medical procedures.

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What People Are Paying - Recent Comments

Broken Tib/Fib

Amount: $50,000.00

Posted by: Dieselwrench93 in Spartanburg, SC.	Posted: September 18th, 2021 12:09PM
Type of Injury: Tib/ Fib fractures	Type of Treatment: Internal Fixation
Medical Facility: Spartanburg Regional	Insurance Carrier: None

Total before "discounts" was $85,952. I suffered a spiral fracture of my tibia down 1/3 of the bone and fractures of Tib & Fib below the knee. I had a rod placed in my tibia,a plate to hold the upper tibia fracture, and 14 screws to hold everything in place. The surgery was performed by Carolina Ortho cited 6th in the article above. I'm still in recovery so more costs to come and the 50k is just the hospital, not PT, follow-ups etc. So far satisfied with surgery, but the costs of things itemized in the hospital bill are ridiculous! $130 per minute at 210 minutes operating time ($28k),up to $1400 per screw (14 total), $10k in I.V.s and pain meds. $700 per blood clot shot that cost me $3.20 a piece when discharged! $2k a night room and board $12k anesthesia, and the list just goes on for pages.

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