Elbow Replacement Cost

Typical costs:

• Without health insurance, an elbow replacement surgery typically costs a total of $35,000 to $40,000 or more. The hospital fee generally would be $30,000 to $35,000 or more, and a surgeon's fee would range from $2,000 to $4,000 or more, according to the office off one orthopedic surgeon who performs elbow replacements; a U.S. Department of Health & Human Services^[1] transparency initiative shows that surgeon fees for joint replacements can reach $5,000.
• An elbow replacement typically would be covered by health insurance if medically necessary.
• With health insurance, typical expenses could include doctor visit copays, drug copays and coinsurance for the surgery. This could total thousands of dollars or the yearly out-of-pocket maximum.

• In a total elbow replacement, the patient generally will be put under general anesthesia or regional anesthesia plus a relaxant. Then the surgeon will make an incision and remove the elbow joint and drill holes into the arm bones, then put the artificial joint in place using bone cement. A hospital stay of up to four days will be necessary. It can take 12 weeks or longer to regain use of the elbow and a year to fully recover.
• The National Institutes of Health^[2] has a primer on elbow replacement surgery.

• Several sessions of physical therapy might be required at $50 to $75 per hour.

• Some orthopedic specialists and hospitals 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^[3] , in Chicago, offers discounts for prompt payment.

• Look for a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who has extensive experience with total elbow replacements. The American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery^[4] offers an orthopedic surgeon finder by city, state or zip code.
• Elbow replacement is a technically difficult surgery and not that many are done each year in the United States, so it is especially important to look for an experienced surgeon at a center that performs at least several elbow replacements per year, according to the University of Washington Department of Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
• Risks of elbow replacement include reaction to anesthesia, blood clots, infection, allergic reaction to the implanted hardware and loosening of the artificial joint.

1.  www.cms.gov/Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/Research/HealthCareConInit/index.html?...
2.  www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007258.htm
3.  www.nch.org/medical-services/orthopedic-services/index.php
4.  www.abos.org/find-a-certified-orthopaedic-surgeon.aspx

Check Out All Costs for Health & Personal Care		How Much Do Crutches Cost?		How Much Do Eyeglasses Cost?		How Much Do Botox Treatments Cost?

Today's Featured Cost Articles

It's October already. Do you know where your snow tires are? October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. When was your last mammogram? It's a Sunday afternoon in the fall. Ready to tailgate? Pruning trees before the storm season can help ensure dead branches won't imperil your home. Rain and winter are coming. Make sure your roadside assistance plan is up to date

About CostHelper

CostHelper is based in Silicon Valley and provides consumers with unbiased price information about thousands of goods and services. Our writers are experienced journalists who adhere to our strict editorial ethics policy.

CostHelper Community

replaced belt serpentine on 2008 chevy cobalt LS 2.2L eng. Paid: 299.19 belt was 77.95 plus shop supplies was 22.68 labor was 188... [more] -sharon k walton Serpentine Belt Replacement Cost Locksmith Paid: 95.00 I left my keys inside... [more] -Pepi44 Locksmith Cost Commercial and residential power washing and window cleaning Paid: 350.00 This company is truly amazing, I've never felt so satisfied after seeing the transformation of my home. I had green grime and algae growing rampid in the front my home. Within a few hours my home along with my deck was spotless... [more] -Emanuel 1 Window Cleaning Cost ER visit. Paid: 9040.00 Thought I was having a heart attack, went to ER... [more] -Omie EKG Cost Tune up Paid: 384.00 Feel ripped off.Nearly $400 for a tune up. All that was done was a spark plug replacement and fuel induction service... [more] -Sam Wise Tune-up Cost dented our friendhip Paid: 300.00 I was asked to be MOH and other bridesmaid was out of town. She agreed to be financial co-host. Offered bride shower for 12-15 people. She said she would invite 40. My small house could barely accommodate... [more] -70s gal Bridal Shower Cost