Orthopedic Surgery Patient Buyer’s Guide (2025 Edition) | Oceanus Health™

By Rocco Monto, MD, FAAOS– Founder, Oceanus Health™

Key Takeaways

  • Not all joint pain requires surgery—understand your options first.

  • Ask your surgeon these 5 essential questions before committing.

  • Compare procedures by cost, risk, and recovery time.

  • Surgical outcomes depend on timing, technique, and rehab.

  • Dr. Monto’s Verdict: The best surgeries are the ones avoided through smart intervention—but when needed, surgery done right is life-changing.

What This Guide Covers

  • Who actually needs surgery

  • How to choose the right orthopedic surgeon

  • Procedure comparisons: cost, risk, recovery

  • Surgery vs. nonsurgical Knee arthritis options

  • Realistic recovery timeline

  • Dr. Monto’s clinical insights

Who Really Needs Orthopedic Surgery?

You may need surgery if you have:

  • Persistent pain > 6–12 weeks despite conservative care

  • Mechanical symptoms (locking, instability)

  • Full-thickness tears, severe fractures, tendon ruptures, or severe joint arthritis

  • Significant loss of function impacting daily life or sport

Top Procedures: Pros, Cons & Recovery

  • Knee arthroscopy (meniscus)

    • PROS: minimally invasive

    • CONS: not effective for arthritis

    • RECOVERY: 6 to 8 weeks

  • Rotator cuff reconstruction (torn shoulder tendon)

    • PROS: High success rate with collagen augmentation

    • CONS: Long recovery

    • RECOVERY: 6-8 months

  • Wrist fracture open repair (broken wrist)

    • PROS: Restores function

    • CONS: Joint stiffness

    • RECOVERY: 3-4 months

  • Ankle fracture open repair (broken ankle)

    • PROS: High success rate

    • CONS: Hardware may require removal

    • RECOVERY: 2-3 months

  • ACL reconstruction (torn knee tendon)

    • PROS: Restores knee stability

    • CONS: Reinjury possible

    • RECOVERY: 8-9 months

Surgical vs Non-Surgical Treat of Knee Arthritis: Pros, Cons & Cost

  • Cortisone Shot (DepoMedrol, Kenalog, etc)

    • PROS: safe, readily available

    • CONS: unpredictable, last only 6-12 weeks, and raises surgical site infection risk

    • COST: $ (covered by insurance)

  • Hyaluronic Acid (Durolane, Synvisc, Euflexxa, etc)

    • PROS: Safe, somewhat successful (60%)

    • CONS: last only 6-9 months

    • COST: $$$ (NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE)

  • Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

    • PROS: Uses patient’s own blood, safe, successful (75%)

    • CONS: difficult to find providers, lasts 9-12 months

    • COST: $$$$ (NOT COVERED BY INSURANCE)

Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Surgeon

  1. Is surgery my only option right now?

  2. What happens if I wait 3–6 months?

  3. How many of these surgeries do you perform each year?

  4. What are your complication and success rates?

  5. What does the full recovery process look like for someone like me?

Typical Surgery Costs (U.S. Averages)

  • Knee Arthroscopy: $5,000–$10,000

  • ACL Repair: $8,000–$15,000

  • Shoulder Repair: $7,000–$12,000

  • Total Knee Replacement: $20,000–$50,000

💡 Oceanus Health offers bundled pricing for private-pay patients and transparent billing for orthopedic procedures.

Dr. Monto’s Clinical Verdict

“The best orthopedic surgeries are timed right, done right, and followed right. My job is to help you decide if and when surgery makes sense, and to deliver results that restore not just function, but confidence.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Do I need surgery for a meniscus tear?
A: Not always. Many tears in older adults can be treated with physical therapy or injections unless mechanical symptoms are present.

Q: How long is recovery after ACL surgery?
A: Typically 6–9 months, depending on graft choice, rehab, and return-to-sport goals.

Q: Are cortisone shots a good alternative to surgery?
A: They can reduce pain short-term but do not fix structural problems like tears.

Q: What are the biggest risks of surgery?
A: Infection, blood clots, stiffness, and residual pain. Surgeon experience matters.

Q: Will I need physical therapy after surgery?
A: Absolutely. PT is a critical part of success for nearly every orthopedic procedure.

About Dr. Rocco Monto and Oceanus Health™

Rocco Monto, MD, FAAOS, is a board-certified orthopedic and fellowship-trained surgeon, regenerative medicine expert, and founder of Oceanus Health™, a precision orthopedic and longevity clinic based on Nantucket. A former team physician for U.S. Soccer and Chief of Orthopedics at Nantucket Cottage Hospital, Dr. Monto specializes in biologic joint preservation and high-performance recovery.