The debilitating effects of a torn anterior cruciate
ligament (ACL) can be overwhelming. But
understanding ACL surgery options and costs doesn’t have to be. Below is a simple breakdown.
Candidates
for Non-Surgical Options:
If the ACL is truly torn, it will not heal itself without
surgery. However, if the overall stability of the knee is intact, or if the ACL
is only partially torn, Dr. Marans
may recommend a much simpler non-surgical approach. This may be preferable for
less active, elderly patients. Options for this may be as simple as knee
braces, crutches, and/or physical therapy.
Candidates
for Surgery:
For athletes, however, a torn ACL can literally be a
game-changer. The same can be said for just about anyone leading a healthy,
active lifestyle. In these cases, surgery is a necessity to provide the patient
with a full range of motion and to avoid long term damage to other parts of the
knee.
Understanding
Costs:
Before proceeding with surgery, it is vital that patients
understand how their insurance coverage works. Most insurance plans cover ACL
surgery, but it is important that it is established that the surgery is
medically necessary beforehand.
Dr. Marans will
accept PPO and most other insurance providers. Patients should contact their
insurance providers, however, to determine:
- What exactly needs to be documented
- Whether or not only certain types of ACL repairs are
covered
- Whether or not a pre-authorization (or other paperwork) is
needed before starting treatment
Once insurance is established, coverage can be fairly
extensive. But it usually can’t cover all ACL surgery options and costs
(patients generally have to pay a percentage, and coverage for post-surgery
pain medication might not be included, for instance) so it is recommended that
patients determine ahead of time what their out of pocket costs will be.
Coverage
typically includes:
- The orthopedic surgeon’s evaluation appointment
- Other pre-surgery appointments (lab tests, diagnostic
studies)
- The surgery itself (fees for the doctor, operating room,
anesthesia, and graft)
- Rehabilitation appointments
Surgical
Procedure:
The purpose of surgery is to help the body to build a new
ligament in place of the torn ACL. The
torn ligament is replaced with a tissue graft, which basically acts as a kind
of scaffolding to guide a new ligament to grow on and rebuild itself.
Sources of this graft can include the patellar, hamstring,
or quadriceps tendon, or even a cadaver graft (or allograft). There are pros
and cons to each of these options. Patients should discuss which option might
be the best fit for them with Dr. Marans.
The surgery itself is performed with an arthroscope, which
uses a set of small incisions as opposed to a larger incision. Thus,
arthroscopic surgery is a less invasive technique than traditional surgery,
which means that recovery time is quicker and pain is less pronounced.
Top ACL
Srugery Options and Costs – Dr.
Howard Marans
Ultimately, the best way to understand ACL surgery options
and costs is to contact Dr. Howard Marans. Patients can trust in his 20+ years
of experience in providing expert diagnoses, thorough explanations of treatment
options, and the fastest results possible.
Please
click below to schedule your consultation, or call us at 714.979.8981
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