Orthopedic Quote Request Packet: Imaging, Side, Procedure, Implant and Rehab on One Page

An orthopedic quote turns on a handful of facts: which joint, which side, what the imaging shows, what you have already tried, what operation is on the table, which implant it assumes, and what rehab looks like afterwards. Put those on one page and a surgeon can tell you far more than a price.

Start with the side and the site

It sounds too obvious to write down, but "knee" is not a case. "Left knee" is. Put the joint and side at the top of the page, in the first line a coordinator reads. If both sides are affected, say which is worse and whether you are asking about one operation or both.

Two-sided cases change the conversation. A surgeon may propose doing one side at a time, with weeks or months in between, which can mean two trips and two budgets. Asking early avoids a quote for one knee being mistaken for a plan for both.

Diagnosis and imaging

Orthopedic surgeons decide largely from the exam and the pictures. OrthoInfo, the patient education site of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, describes the knee replacement evaluation as a medical history, a physical exam of motion, stability, strength and leg alignment, and X-rays to show the extent of damage; MRI or blood tests are needed only occasionally (OrthoInfo, 2026).

For the packet, that means three lines:

• The diagnosis in the words your doctor used, and the doctor's specialty.
• Each relevant scan: type, body part, date, and whether you have the written report, the images, or both.
• Anything the exam found that you were told about, such as a deformity, instability or limited motion.

Don't send the images through a general web form. Name them in the packet, then send them once a provider gives you a proper clinical channel.

What you have already tried

Surgery is usually not the first step for joint problems, and surgeons will want to know what came before. OrthoInfo notes that knee replacement may be worth considering when nonsurgical treatments such as medications and walking supports are no longer helping, and that recommendations are based on pain and disability rather than age.

List each treatment with a rough duration and the result: anti-inflammatory medication, physical therapy, injections, bracing, weight loss, activity changes. "Six months of physical therapy, some improvement, then worse" tells a surgeon more than "tried everything." If nothing has been tried yet, say that. A surgeon may suggest an evaluation and a nonsurgical plan before quoting an operation, which is useful information in itself.

The operation on the table

If a surgeon at home has proposed a specific operation, name it: total or partial knee replacement, hip replacement, arthroscopy, ligament reconstruction, spinal fusion. Add whether you agree with the recommendation or are seeking a different opinion.

If no one has proposed surgery, write "seeking specialist opinion" instead of guessing a procedure. A request built around a guessed operation can produce a quote for something you don't need.

The implant line

For joint replacement, the implant is a real part of both the price and your future care. OrthoInfo explains that knee replacement components are metal surfaces with a medical-grade plastic spacer between them, fixed either with cement or by press-fit. Choices like these vary by surgeon and case.

Ask each provider:

• Which implant system does the quote assume, and who manufactures it?
• Is the implant included in the package price, or billed separately?
• Will you receive written implant details to keep: manufacturer, model and identifying numbers?

That last item matters years later. If the joint ever needs another operation, the next surgeon will ask what is inside it. Our revision surgery packet shows why that record is so hard to reconstruct after the fact.

Hospital stay and blood clot prevention

Ask how long the provider expects you to stay in hospital and what happens on the days after discharge. For knee replacement, OrthoInfo says patients may go home the same day or be admitted, typically overnight and sometimes longer, a decision made with the surgeon in advance.

Blood clots deserve a specific question because you will be traveling. OrthoInfo says the risk of deep vein thrombosis after orthopedic surgery is highest 2 to 10 days after the operation and lasts about three months, and that prevention can include blood thinners, compression and early movement (OrthoInfo, 2026). The CDC adds that travel after surgery further raises the risk of clots (CDC Yellow Book, 2026).

So ask: what clot prevention is planned, is any medication for home included in the quote, and what does the surgeon advise about the flight back?

Rehab: where it happens and who pays for it

Orthopedic results depend heavily on rehabilitation. OrthoInfo describes knee replacement patients starting exercises within hours of surgery, then following a home program with several sessions a day; most resume most daily activities in about 3 to 6 weeks and return to driving at around 4 to 6 weeks.

That means much of your rehab will happen after you fly home. The quote should say how many therapy sessions are included in Colombia, whether you will leave with a written rehab plan, and whether the surgeon will be available to answer questions from your therapist at home. Arrange the home side before you travel.

Your general health, in three lines

Joint surgery is planned around the whole patient, not only the joint. Add a short health line covering long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart or lung disease, any history of blood clots, current blood thinners, and previous problems with anesthesia. Mention your rough height and weight if you are comfortable doing so.

These details can change where the operation is done, how long you stay and what tests are needed first, so leaving them out tends to produce a quote that shifts later. One line each is enough at this stage; the clinical team will ask for more through its own channel.

The one-page layout

That table fits on one page and answers most of what an orthopedic reviewer asks first.

Reading the reply

A strong orthopedic reply confirms the side and procedure back to you, names the surgeon and facility, states the implant assumed, gives the expected stay and the rehab included, and says what the in-person exam could change. If one clinic proposes a different operation from another, ask each to explain its reasoning before you compare prices. Once the plans match, ask for a breakdown; our guide to requesting an itemized quote covers the lines to ask for. If you haven't settled on a city, the destination-flexible request explains how to let the case choose it.

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