Knee X-ray
This is the fuller knee x-ray series — four or more views rather than one or two. The extra angles exist because the kneecap, the joint surfaces, and the back of the joint each need their own projection. It is the standard way to grade knee arthritis and to check a knee after injury.
This explanation has not been reviewed by a person yet.
What it is
Cartilage does not show on an x-ray, so the way a knee film reports on cartilage is indirectly: by measuring the gap between the thighbone and the shinbone. A healthy knee has a clear space there because cartilage is holding the bones apart; a worn knee has that space narrowed or gone, with changes in the bone at the surface and spurs growing at the edges. That is the core reading. The reason this code covers four or more views rather than a quick two is that a single front-and-side pair misses things — the kneecap needs a view taken from above with the knee bent, and the back of the joint needs its own angle. Views taken standing are more informative for arthritis than views taken lying down, because body weight is what closes the gap.
Why it is done
- To grade wear in the knee joint, chiefly by how much space is left between the bones
- To find a fracture of the kneecap, the top of the shinbone, or the end of the thighbone after an injury
- To check the position and tracking of the kneecap in people with front-of-knee pain
- To plan for knee replacement, and afterward to check the position of the components
- To look for loose fragments of bone in the joint, or bone changes from an old injury
What to expect
Several positions are needed, so this takes a little longer than a simple two-view film — usually ten minutes or so in the room. Expect to stand for some images with weight on both legs, to lie down for others, and to bend the knee over the edge of the table for the kneecap view. Each exposure is brief and the technologist steps behind a screen. It is painless apart from the positioning itself. There is no preparation and nothing afterward. A radiologist reads the full series and issues a report.
Questions worth asking
- How many views were actually taken? A one- or two-view knee film is a different, cheaper code than the full series, and the bill should match what was done.
- Were standing views included? If arthritis is the question and the films were taken lying down, ask whether a repeat visit is going to be suggested — and billed.
- If both knees are being filmed, is there a single both-knees code rather than two separate charges?
- If these are pre-operative films for a knee replacement, are they inside the surgeon's global package or billed on their own?
- Is the charge for taking the images separate from the charge for the radiologist reading them, and are both in network?
What Knee X-ray costs by state
- Knee X-ray cost in Texas — 109 hospitals, median $425.55
- Knee X-ray cost in Florida — 82 hospitals, median $827.94
- Knee X-ray cost in Ohio — 67 hospitals, median $477.10
- Knee X-ray cost in California — 66 hospitals, median $445.42
- Knee X-ray cost in Illinois — 51 hospitals, median $567.36
- Knee X-ray cost in Virginia — 43 hospitals, median $320.50
- Knee X-ray cost in Tennessee — 38 hospitals, median $120.17
- Knee X-ray cost in Pennsylvania — 33 hospitals, median $424.20
- Knee X-ray cost in Wisconsin — 33 hospitals, median $363.00
- Knee X-ray cost in Iowa — 30 hospitals, median $344.80
- Knee X-ray cost in Michigan — 27 hospitals, median $443.90
- Knee X-ray cost in Indiana — 26 hospitals, median $523.20
- Knee X-ray cost in Georgia — 25 hospitals, median $452.00
- Knee X-ray cost in Washington — 25 hospitals, median $424.80
- Knee X-ray cost in New Jersey — 23 hospitals, median $117.81
- Knee X-ray cost in Arizona — 22 hospitals, median $133.06
- Knee X-ray cost in Kentucky — 22 hospitals, median $661.46
- Knee X-ray cost in New York — 22 hospitals, median $125.84
- Knee X-ray cost in Missouri — 21 hospitals, median $335.50
- Knee X-ray cost in Minnesota — 19 hospitals, median $268.80
- Knee X-ray cost in Oklahoma — 18 hospitals, median $467.50
- Knee X-ray cost in Colorado — 17 hospitals, median $1,617.15
- Knee X-ray cost in West Virginia — 17 hospitals, median $368.00
- Knee X-ray cost in North Carolina — 15 hospitals, median $334.25
- Knee X-ray cost in Nebraska — 13 hospitals, median $319.00
- Knee X-ray cost in Oregon — 13 hospitals, median $275.25
- Knee X-ray cost in Kansas — 11 hospitals, median $493.35
- Knee X-ray cost in Mississippi — 11 hospitals, median $118.90
- Knee X-ray cost in South Carolina — 11 hospitals, median $436.00
- Knee X-ray cost in Arkansas — 10 hospitals, median $312.65
- Knee X-ray cost in Maine — 7 hospitals, median $514.30
- Knee X-ray cost in South Dakota — 7 hospitals, median $477.60
- Knee X-ray cost in Alaska — 5 hospitals, median $766.74
- Knee X-ray cost in Nevada — 4 hospitals, median $596.55
- Knee X-ray cost in North Dakota — 4 hospitals, median $457.60
- Knee X-ray cost in Wyoming — 4 hospitals, median $411.84
- Knee X-ray cost in Hawaii — 2 hospitals, median $248.64
- Knee X-ray cost in Louisiana — 2 hospitals, median $127.92
- Knee X-ray cost in Maryland — 2 hospitals, median $142.80
- Knee X-ray cost in Montana — 2 hospitals, median $256.00
- Knee X-ray cost in New Mexico — 2 hospitals, median $432.18
- Knee X-ray cost in New Hampshire — 1 hospitals, median $534.95
Knee X-ray prices at hospitals
- Knee X-ray at 82-3844150 BMH Crittenden, West Memphis — $67.50
- Knee X-ray at Banner North Colorado Medical Center - Loveland Campus, Loveland — $73.22
- Knee X-ray at Dickenson Community Hospital, CLINTWOOD — $78.66
- Knee X-ray at Hancock County Hospital, SNEEDVILLE — $78.66
- Knee X-ray at Lee County Community Hospital, PENNINGTON GAP — $78.66
- Knee X-ray at Johnson County Community Hospital, MOUNTAIN CITY — $78.66
- Knee X-ray at 64-0362400 Anderson Regional Main Campus, Meridian — $79.20
- Knee X-ray at Mercy Health Love County Rural Health Clinic, MARIETTA — $80.00
- Knee X-ray at Bristol Regional Medical Center, BRISTOL — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Franklin Woods Community Hospital, JOHNSON CITY — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Greeneville Community Hospital, GREENEVILLE — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Hawkins County Memorial Hospital, ROGERSVILLE — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Holston Valley Medical Center, KINGSPORT — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Indian Path Community Hospital, KINGSPORT — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Johnson City Medical Center, JOHNSON CITY — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Lonesome Pine Hospital, BIG STONE GAP — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Johnston Memorial Hospital, ABINGDON — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Russell County Hospital, LEBANON — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Smyth County Community Hospital, MARION — $80.10
- Knee X-ray at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, ELIZABETHTON — $80.10
See every published price for Knee X-ray: the full national range, the state and hospital breakdowns, and which hospitals charge the least.
Knee X-ray cost — see all prices →Sources
- OrthoInfo (AAOS): Arthritis of the Knee (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)
- MedlinePlus: Bone x-ray (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)
- Wikipedia (opens in a new tab, leaves healthcosts.net)