Average charges for hip replacement surgeries: United States, 1997.

Hip replacement surgeries continue to increase in both number and rates in the United States. In 1996 around 140,000 total hip arthroplasties (THAs) were performed across the country. In addition, 103,000 revision surgeries and 30,000 partial hip replacements were performed. More women than men have these procedures and almost seven out of ten are performed on patients over age 64. The 1997 charges for these surgeries varied extensively between geographic areas and states. The THA total charge averaged $20,290 across the United States, with California reporting an average 56 percent above this and Pennsylvania with a charge 29 percent below. Per diem charges totaled $4,110 and the length of stay was 4.94 days. THA revision surgeries cost $24,530 on average with the charge in California the highest of the study states, 42 percent above the U.S. norm and more than twice that in Indiana. Per diem charges were $4,370 and average hospitalization lasted 5.61 days. Partial hip replacement charges averaged $15,890 across the United States, with an average length of stay of 7.07 days.