Broken Toes Cost

Typical costs:

• Without health insurance, diagnosis and treatment for a broken toe typically includes the cost of the X-ray, a facility fee and a doctor fee for a typical total of less than $1,000 for non-surgical treatment to $10,000 or more for surgical treatment. A toe X-ray costs an average of $110, according to NewChoice Health.com^[1] , but some providers charge $1,000 or more. Non-surgical treatment of a fracture of the big toe can cost $254, not including the doctor fee, while surgical treatment costs about $8,900, not including the doctor fee, according to Saint Elizabeth Regional Medical Center^[2] in Lincoln, NE. A typical doctor fee for non-surgical treatment of a fracture would include $90 to $200 for an office visit and could also include $250 to $950 for a procedure, such as realignment, or $2,000 or more for surgery, according to Carolina Orthopaedic Surgery Associates^[3] .
• Treatment for a broken toe typically is typically covered by health insurance. A patient with insurance would typically pay an X-ray copay, an office visit copay and coinsurance of 10% to 50% percent for the procedure. The cost could be $100 or less for non-surgical treatment up to the yearly out-of-pocket maximum for surgery.

• For a minor fracture, realignment of bones might not be necessary and treatment typically includes taping and rest.
• If necessary, the doctor will use local anesthesia to realign the bones, then will tape the broken toe to the adjacent toe, with a piece of gauze in between, to hold the bones in place. Diabetic patients will have to wear a special hard shoe instead. Surgery usually is not required.
• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons^[4] offers a primer on toe fractures and treatment.

• Going to an emergency room for initial treatment could add an emergency room visit fee of $500 or more to the final bill.

• Some hospitals and podiatric and orthopedic surgeons offer discounts for uninsured/cash paying patients. For example, the Southern California Orthopedic Institute offers discounted services for cash-paying patients, and so does For Your Feet Podiatric Medicine/Foot Surgery in Colorado.
• Some free clinics, such as the Community Health Free Clinic^[5] in Chicago, offer orthopedic and podiatric specialty care. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services^[6] offers a directory of federally funded health centers. These centers are open to anyone and fees are charged on a sliding scale based on federal poverty guidelines; the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends contacting clinics directly for specific information on their discount policies. If the nearest clinic doesn't offer orthopedic care, ask for a referral.

• A broken toe would be treated by an orthopedic surgeon or a podiatric surgeon. A sports-related injury also could be treated by a doctor who specializes in sports medicine, who could be either a family physician or an orthopedic surgeon.
• The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery^[7] offers an orthopedic surgeon finder by city, state or zip code. The American Board of Podiatric Surgery offers a doctor locator^[8] . And the American Osteopathic Academy of Sports Medicine offers a doctor locator.

1.  www.newchoicehealth.com/Directory/Procedure/109/Toe%20X-Ray
2.  tp.chi.acelogicus.net/nese/Default.aspx
3.  www.c-osa.com/charges.htm
4.  orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=a00165
5.  www.communityhfc.org/referals.htm
6.  findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx
7.  www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx
8.  www.abps.org/content/resources/FindADoctor.aspx

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