ACL Reconstruction cost
Discussion
Hi
Having an MRI tomorrow with a high chance of finding out my ACL is torn and I will have to consider surgery to get it reconstructed.
I am paying for my own MRI and a surgeons opinion (after which I will then go onto the NHS)
2 questions.
1) Anyone have an idea how much it costs for a private ACL reconstruction for self paying customers? I imagine, like MRI scans it varies massivley from place to place. Does the 'full' fee usually include Physio afterwards or is it the Op only? I am only interested in the Op as I have a physio of my own.
2) Does anyone understand the NHS 18 weeks thing? Am I right in thinking once you get reffered for something in hospital it has to be sorted within 18 weeks? Does that mean once my OS says I need the Op on the NHS it has to be done within 18 weeks?
I can probably wait the 18 weeks if I can sort the clicking sound out! But could be tempted if the ACL contruction cost a lot less than the 5k figures I have been hearing.
Having an MRI tomorrow with a high chance of finding out my ACL is torn and I will have to consider surgery to get it reconstructed.
I am paying for my own MRI and a surgeons opinion (after which I will then go onto the NHS)
2 questions.
1) Anyone have an idea how much it costs for a private ACL reconstruction for self paying customers? I imagine, like MRI scans it varies massivley from place to place. Does the 'full' fee usually include Physio afterwards or is it the Op only? I am only interested in the Op as I have a physio of my own.
2) Does anyone understand the NHS 18 weeks thing? Am I right in thinking once you get reffered for something in hospital it has to be sorted within 18 weeks? Does that mean once my OS says I need the Op on the NHS it has to be done within 18 weeks?
I can probably wait the 18 weeks if I can sort the clicking sound out! But could be tempted if the ACL contruction cost a lot less than the 5k figures I have been hearing.
Why pay initially?
I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
Mojooo said:
1) Anyone have an idea how much it costs for a private ACL reconstruction for self paying customers? I imagine, like MRI scans it varies massivley from place to place. Does the 'full' fee usually include Physio afterwards or is it the Op only? I am only interested in the Op as I have a physio of my own.
In Bristol, a private ACL will cost you about 4k, which does not include post op physio. You'll need a fair bit of that, perhaps 10-12 sessions over at least 6 months so you should probably budget another £500 or so for that.You can always as your surgeon/local private hospital for a quote but until they know exactly what they need to do to you it will be a guideline.
HTH
Sarah
plg101 said:
Why pay initially?
I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
Only because last time I did my knee in it took 15 weeks to get the MRI results back in total - way too long for me to wait. Surgery on top would have been how long???I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
I saw my private Physio Monday and did the scan yestersay. Hopefully get the reuslts early next week.
After that I will get a referral to go on the NHS but I might also pay to see a surgeon to get their opinion.
I may consider paying depending on the waiting times.
Edited by Mojooo on Friday 16th October 12:56
Mojooo said:
plg101 said:
Why pay initially?
I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
Only because last time I did my knee in it took 15 weeks to get the MRI results back in total - way too long for me to wait. Surgery on top would have been how long???I found the waiting list very short for my knee - in fact once I'd seen the GP, the NHS had "outsourced" it to BUPA anyway. No fes, great service. Start to end, about 9 weeks including the MRI and operation.
Also, isn't there a risk that the GP will just refer you back to the same specialists?
I saw my private Physio Monday and did the scan yesterday. Hopefully get the reuslts early next week.
After that I will get a referral to go on the NHS but I might also pay to see a surgeon to get their opinion.
I may consider paying depending on the waiting times.
Edited by Mojooo on Friday 16th October 12:56
So had a second NHS op to clean up the joint in December 2008, 5 months after first being told i need another operation, due to a Chondral defect. Post op I was told that this was as good as the knee would ever get. So restarted my rehab, 6 months later as i thought i was approaching something like a fitness, it went wrong again.
This time I ignored the NHS, ignored the RAF medical support and went straight to Stuart Barton ex SRU physio and was diagnosed with intra articular notch scarring, as I had insurance went private (wish i had done this in the first place). I was taken to these guys http://www.spaceclinics.co.uk
saw Gordon Mackay and was operated on for the third time, a week after the consultation.
The report on my knee is that the ACL is in at the wrong angle and is too tight hence which caused the scarring. They had missed the fact the back of my patella looks like a cobbled road and is worn to the bone in places, and also removed some more meniscus, leaving me with 30% on the medial aspect of the joint.
Total cost of the operation was £1400 according to the invoice that appeared at my house, of which I paid £100 excess. There may have been other parts to this bill as this was the bill from the hospital. This however didn't include any physio post op. I wish i had gone down this route in the first place. There was no comparison in the level of work done to the joint and the after care.
edit to add: there was a cost for drugs, co-codamol and sodium declafenac (sp)
Edited by Bosshogg76 on Friday 16th October 18:08
Edited by Bosshogg76 on Friday 16th October 18:20
Edited by Bosshogg76 on Friday 16th October 22:09
I spent about 10 years working as a physio in the area of professional sports medicine and have a fair degree of experience in post-op physio following ACL reconstruction. I think the price range for the reconstructive surgery is around £4k - £6k depending on who does it and where. Private consultation with an ortho consultant will be circa £150. Although you have already paid for this, I think the MRI cost is circa £500ish. Private physio costs will vary between £25 and £50 / session.
Once you have the MRI results, and if you know who you would like to undertake the op on the NHS, it can sometimes be "helpful" to have a private consultation with that specialist in order to discuss your options.
The physio aspect is a fairly major factor in achieving a successful outcome so don't discount the NHS physio service even if you intend to keep in tow with your own one. Often the surgeon will "insist" on you following a set protocol for rehab in the early stages in any event.
Once you have the MRI results, and if you know who you would like to undertake the op on the NHS, it can sometimes be "helpful" to have a private consultation with that specialist in order to discuss your options.
The physio aspect is a fairly major factor in achieving a successful outcome so don't discount the NHS physio service even if you intend to keep in tow with your own one. Often the surgeon will "insist" on you following a set protocol for rehab in the early stages in any event.
MRI taken last week, results to come back to physio this week so I do not know what they say
But I already had a confirmed partial ACL tear and my physio reckons its torn more/all the way now. And absed on what I have read, can feel in ym knee I would probably agree. Possible meniscus tear as well.
Just findingo ut costs now as I wanna get things moving as soon as I get my results.
I think choosing my consultant is key obviously as they each only work at 1 NHS hospital I wnat to find one at a relativley quick hospital.
But I already had a confirmed partial ACL tear and my physio reckons its torn more/all the way now. And absed on what I have read, can feel in ym knee I would probably agree. Possible meniscus tear as well.
Just findingo ut costs now as I wanna get things moving as soon as I get my results.
I think choosing my consultant is key obviously as they each only work at 1 NHS hospital I wnat to find one at a relativley quick hospital.
Mojooo said:
I think choosing my consultant is key obviously as they each only work at 1 NHS hospital I wnat to find one at a relativley quick hospital.
you are perhaps better off wating a little while to get a good surgeon rather than a quick hospital.ACL reconstruction is very skill-sensitive, and the surgeon should be doing at least 40/year (and answer this question to you)
Will
(2 ACLs this week)
Currently going through this process now with a snapped ACL and torn meniscus. NHS is taking a long time, seeing consultant soon. What I am wondering is if I will get a better job done privately? Not had any quotes but seems to be about £10k now. Would it be prudent to take a private consultation after seeing NHS ? Unlike most PH members I dont have money to burn, but could afford to go private. Just unsure if its worth it. Any words of help or advice would be great.
"Better job privately.....". Hmm... .....
Private surgeons mostly work in the NHS too. There's no Good ACL in the private sector vs a shoddy one in the NHS. The aftercare and the waiting time can be very different, but I do the same job irrelevant of the hospital I'm practicing in. No "better concentrate on this one."
Interestingly, there are some shoddy private ACL surgeries done..... With a £6-8k bill.....
Private surgeons mostly work in the NHS too. There's no Good ACL in the private sector vs a shoddy one in the NHS. The aftercare and the waiting time can be very different, but I do the same job irrelevant of the hospital I'm practicing in. No "better concentrate on this one."
Interestingly, there are some shoddy private ACL surgeries done..... With a £6-8k bill.....
Edited by The_Doc on Tuesday 23 October 21:55
Thank you for the reply.
Timing could be an issue with the nhs, so will have to find out a time frame when I see them next week.
I had been told that you could use nhs physio even if you went private for the op. As there is strict protocol to follow post op, I assumed the physiotherapy would be the same private or nhs. Maybe more down to the physiotherapist as an individual.
Timing could be an issue with the nhs, so will have to find out a time frame when I see them next week.
I had been told that you could use nhs physio even if you went private for the op. As there is strict protocol to follow post op, I assumed the physiotherapy would be the same private or nhs. Maybe more down to the physiotherapist as an individual.
Regarding your legal right to transfer between private and NHS care there are a set of guidelines which haven't changed for several years.
In summary, you are entitled to transfer to NHS care at any point in your pathway *providing* the care would ordinarily have been funded by the NHS. This means if you're having something like an ACL and your local commissioners have a restriction policy on reconstructions (many now do, restricted based on your BMI, your profession, pain levels etc) you would need to meet their criteria. You would also only receive the level of after-care you would have received as an NHS patient.
If you're paying for the procedure privately, I would recommend coughing up for the extra private physiotherapy for two reasons - continuity of care (your private physio will be able to easily get the opinion of your consultant) and secondly there will be no unnecessary waiting time between surgery and physio which could easily happen if you're trying to access NHS Physio while you remind the NHS you're entitled to treatment (and evidence you're eligible for it, then wait for availability).
In summary, you are entitled to transfer to NHS care at any point in your pathway *providing* the care would ordinarily have been funded by the NHS. This means if you're having something like an ACL and your local commissioners have a restriction policy on reconstructions (many now do, restricted based on your BMI, your profession, pain levels etc) you would need to meet their criteria. You would also only receive the level of after-care you would have received as an NHS patient.
If you're paying for the procedure privately, I would recommend coughing up for the extra private physiotherapy for two reasons - continuity of care (your private physio will be able to easily get the opinion of your consultant) and secondly there will be no unnecessary waiting time between surgery and physio which could easily happen if you're trying to access NHS Physio while you remind the NHS you're entitled to treatment (and evidence you're eligible for it, then wait for availability).
My understanding of the knee clinic in Basingstoke was that if you presented with a locking of locked knee you would be moved up the order due to your quality of life and impact. I saw the same private surgeon (well I didn't in the end) that did my first arthroscopy and meniscal repair privately. You just need to find out who you want and get a NHS referral to that consultant.
Where in the country are you as I am sure The_Doc will be able to recommend a decent surgeon.
I recall my private surgeon, Adrian Wilson saying the main difference (for him between NHS and his private work) was likelihood to pick up a bug in the hospital (him operating).
Where in the country are you as I am sure The_Doc will be able to recommend a decent surgeon.
I recall my private surgeon, Adrian Wilson saying the main difference (for him between NHS and his private work) was likelihood to pick up a bug in the hospital (him operating).
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