Overview

Did You Know?
According to the latest News and Numbers from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, orthopedic procedures have increased in the U.S. by nearly 25 percent between 1997 and 2005, climbing from 822,000 to 1.3 million [1] . These procedures include knee reconstruction or replacement (knee arthroplasty), total and partial hip replacement, and spinal fusion. If you need an orthopedic procedure, you are clearly not alone.

The data from the report indicate that that between 1997 and 2005 in the U.S.:

• The number of knee surgeries climbed by 69 percent from 328,800 to 555,800.
• Hip replacements rose 32 percent from 290,700 to 383,500.
• Spinal fusion operations increased 73 percent from 202,100 to 349,400.
• Women were 60 percent more likely than men to have hip replacements and 70 percent more likely to have knee surgeries. Spinal fusions were equally likely in both men and women.
• Hospital stays for orthopedic procedures totaled $31.5 billion (11 percent of all hospital patient care costs).
• Medicare paid the largest share of hospital costs for knee surgeries and hip replacements (covering nearly 60 percent of all knee surgeries and 64 percent of all hip replacements). On the other hand, private insurance was billed for over half (52 percent) of spinal fusions.

What Types of Orthopedic Procedures are People Having Abroad?
In addition to knee and hip replacements, BridgeHealth has assisted in coordinating total disc replacement, ACL reconstruction, shoulder surgery to repair a weakened or torn rotator cuff, and many knee arthroscopies for repair of meniscus tears. Please refer to the Surgical Procedures section for a more detailed list of procedures we offer.

But Why Travel for Orthopedic Surgery?
As with many other goods and services, the global marketplace has given rise to competition in orthopedic surgery. Within the healthcare universe the result has been the creation of three distinct benefits for consumers when traveling internationally for medical services: a rise in higher quality care, an opportunity for dramatic cost savings, and a level of superior service and patient experience.

Of course, the primary reason to travel for orthopedic surgery is the affordable pricing of procedures. Also, the extraordinary care and recovery assistance at our provider destinations is of paramount importance – especially for those needing affordable postoperative physical therapy and nursing care.