How surgical pricing is worked out
These pricing guides reflect the planned operation, findings available at assessment and anticipated care. They are not official hospital estimates.
Four planning tiers
| Tier | Score band | CAD before tax |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0–3 | $3,000–4,700 |
| 2 | 4–6 | $4,500–6,000 |
| 3 | 7–9 | $5,800–8,000 |
| 4 | 10+ | $7,800–10,500 |
The scoring reference considers operative fields, approach, structural work, implants and aftercare. It is a planning framework, not a validated clinical risk score. Procedure-specific packages also account for defined imaging, surgical work and recovery resources; not every published package is produced by the sum alone.
Emergency department assessment, diagnostics and stabilization are separate. Each surgical listing describes the care included under Dr Wood.
Choose one value in each category and add A + B + C + D + E, based on the surgical needs and care anticipated before surgery.
Soft-tissue surgery
| Category | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A — Operative Fields | 0 | single operative site |
| 2 | two distinct operative regions | |
| 3 | Bilateral same region OR separate major organ systems | |
| B — Approach | 0 | superficial |
| 2 | deep soft tissue dissection | |
| 3 | routine cavity entry (abdomen, thorax) | |
| 4 | major regional dissection (deep pelvic) / complex cavity (retroperitoneal, right liver) | |
| 5 | gross contamination or physiologic instability (hemoabdomen, bile peritonitis, septic peritonitis) | |
| C — Structural Magnitude | 0 | Uncomplicated incision and closure, reduction/direct defect closure, or simple fixation/pexy without tissue resection |
| 2 | Biopsy/sampling, or limited functional reconstruction such as arytenoid lateralization | |
| 3 | Organ, mass or limb removal without restoring tubular continuity; flap/graft reconstruction | |
| 4 | Segment removal + continuity restored (R&A) | |
| 5 | Diversion / rerouting (Billroth, Roux-en-Y, cholecystoduodenostomy) | |
| D — Implants | 0 | No separately scored implant requirement; routine sutures do not add points |
| E — Aftercare | 0 | Routine recovery and follow-up for that procedure |
| 1 | Increased monitoring (in hospital and added imaging) or medical support (includes transfusion/albumin/plasma) | |
| 2 | repeated procedural aftercare (repeated bandage changes, second intention healing and staged wound management, prolonged coaptation) |
Orthopedic surgery
| Category | Points | Description |
|---|---|---|
| A — Operative Fields | 0 | single operative site |
| 2 | two distinct operative regions | |
| 3 | Bilateral same region OR separate major organ systems | |
| B — Approach | 0 | Superficial or limited percutaneous exposure without open joint or shaft dissection |
| 2 | routine joint approach | |
| 3 | diaphyseal fracture exposure | |
| 4 | Approach for articular reconstruction, deformity correction or joint fusion | |
| C — Structural Magnitude | 0 | none |
| 1 | biomechanical stabilization (TPLO) | |
| 2 | Structural stabilization, such as simple fracture repair or unilateral MPL; excisional arthroplasty such as FHO | |
| 3 | Multi-structure correction (bilateral MPL, complex fracture, tendon repair) | |
| 4 | articular reconstruction / deformity correction / arthrodesis | |
| D — Implants | 0 | none |
| 1 | Standard implant construct | |
| 2 | Multi-implant or advanced fixation | |
| 3 | Fusion construct, deformity correction or special plate | |
| E — Aftercare | 0 | Routine recovery and follow-up for that procedure |
| 1 | increased monitoring (in hospital and added imaging) | |
| 2 | repeated procedural aftercare (repeated bandage changes, second intention healing and staged wound management, prolonged coaptation) |
Worked examples
- Simple cystotomy: 0 + 3 + 0 + 0 + 0 = 3, Tier 1.
- Unilateral FHO: 0 + 2 + 2 + 0 + 0 = 4, Tier 2.
- Unilateral perineal hernia with internal obturator: 0 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 0 = 5, Tier 2.
- Bilateral perineal hernia: 3 + 2 + 3 + 0 + 0 = 8, Tier 3.
- Routine TPLO: 0 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 0 = 4, Tier 2.
- Stable splenectomy: 0 + 3 + 3 + 0 + 0 = 6, Tier 2.
- Nonseptic intestinal resection and anastomosis: 0 + 3 + 4 + 0 + 0 = 7, Tier 3.
- Hindlimb amputation: 0 + 4 + 3 + 0 + 0 = 7, Tier 3.
Sialocele surgery is Tier 2 when the required CT is already completed, or Tier 3 with CT, 3D reconstruction for surgical planning and the specialist report included. Similarly, the included hospital care helps define GDV and septic-abdomen packages.
CT and surgical planning
Where stated in the procedure listing, CT with 3D reconstruction for surgical planning and the specialist report are included within the displayed tier and price range. There is no separate CT surcharge.
Ear and salivary surgery packages are Tier 2 when CT has already been completed, or Tier 3 with CT and the report included. The listed CT-inclusive orthopedic packages remain Tier 4.
Combined and staged surgery
A second substantive procedure usually increases the combined package by one tier. A separate operative field means a separate setup, such as repositioning, preparation and redraping. A small additional procedure, such as a small mass removal, may instead add approximately $300–500, confirmed in the estimate.
Where a named package already includes the combined work, that work is not counted again. Dr Wood generally considers staging when combined work reaches Tier 4; there is no automatic Tier 5. The decision depends on the patient and required treatment.
Staged mastectomy is Tier 2 for the first side and Tier 1 for the second, compared with Tier 4 for both sides in one session. Comparable pricing avoids discouraging the preferred staged approach.
Hernias and PPDH
Inguinal hernia and peritoneopericardial diaphragmatic hernia (PPDH) estimates depend on the repair and recovery anticipated. Sutured closure, alternative muscle reconstruction and mesh do not have the same scope. Dr Wood confirms a case-specific tier before surgery rather than assigning it from location alone.
For perineal hernias, internal obturator muscle transposition is routine within the unilateral Tier 2 and bilateral Tier 3 packages. Alternative muscle flaps or fascia grafts can justify a higher estimate. Recurrence alone does not automatically mean a bilateral package.
PPDH care planning includes oxygen-cage recovery and overnight observation. Contact the surgical service for the appropriate estimate.