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Vascular · Peripheral Nerve

Nerve and Vascular Surgery Cost: From Temporal Artery Ligation to Bypass

8 min readUpdated August 2026Typical 2026 ranges, not quotes
Bottom line

Nerve and vascular procedures span the cost spectrum: temporal artery ligation for migraine $2,000 to $5,000; compartment syndrome fasciotomy $5,000 to $12,000 elective or far more as trauma; thoracic outlet decompression $15,000 to $35,000; MALS (median arcuate ligament) release $15,000 to $30,000; brachial plexus reconstruction $25,000 to $60,000; peripheral angioplasty $8,000 to $20,000; coronary bypass $120,000 to $250,000 billed. Accredited Colombian hospitals run 55 to 70 percent lower on the elective procedures, and a handful of these are highly subspecialized anywhere.

These searches come from patients with uncommon diagnoses who have often been told a price without context. This guide gives 2026 ranges and flags which procedures are widely available and which are concentrated at a few centers.

Typical 2026 prices

Nerve and vascular procedures

All-in typical 2026, cash-pay unless noted
Line itemUSAColombia
Temporal artery ligationmigraine trigger site, outpatient$2,000 – $5,000$900 – $2,000
Elective fasciotomychronic exertional compartment syndrome, one leg$5,000 – $12,000$2,200 – $4,500
Cubital or carpal tunnel releasesee small ortho guide$2,500 – $6,500$900 – $2,500
Thoracic outlet decompressionfirst rib resection, scalenectomy$15,000 – $35,000$6,500 – $12,000
MALS releaselaparoscopic median arcuate ligament release$15,000 – $30,000$6,000 – $11,000
Brachial plexus reconstructionnerve grafts or transfers$25,000 – $60,000$10,000 – $22,000
Varicose vein ablationendovenous laser or RF, one leg$2,500 – $5,000$900 – $1,800
Peripheral angioplastyPAD, leg artery, with stent$8,000 – $20,000$3,500 – $7,000
Carotid endarterectomy$15,000 – $30,000$6,500 – $11,000
Aortic valve replacementopen or TAVR, billed charges$100,000 – $220,000$25,000 – $45,000
Coronary bypass (CABG)3–4 vessel, billed charges$120,000 – $250,000$28,000 – $50,000
All-in typical range$2,000 – $250,000$900 – $50,000
Cardiac lines are US billed charges, not cash prices; insurer payments are typically 30 to 60 percent of billed. Thoracic outlet, MALS, and brachial plexus surgery are subspecialty procedures available at limited centers in any country; Colombia figures for those are moderate-to-low confidence. Vascular and cardiac figures for Colombia reflect accredited cardiovascular hospitals.

The subspecialty problem

Thoracic outlet syndrome, MALS, and brachial plexus injury are diagnoses where the surgeon's case volume matters more than the price. Thoracic outlet decompression, for example, has a wide range of outcomes and the best results come from vascular or thoracic surgeons who do dozens per year. MALS release is a laparoscopic procedure with contested indications; many patients are told their symptoms are MALS by a scan and then found not to benefit. Brachial plexus reconstruction is a microsurgical subspecialty with a limited window after injury (nerve transfers work best within 6 to 12 months). For all three, ask for the surgeon's annual volume and outcomes before asking the price, in any country.

Compartment syndrome: two different bills

Acute compartment syndrome after trauma is an emergency fasciotomy, often followed by delayed closure or skin grafting; total US cost easily exceeds $30,000 to $60,000 billed and it is not a procedure to price. Chronic exertional compartment syndrome in athletes is an elective fasciotomy, usually outpatient, and is the $5,000 to $12,000 line above; it travels well.

Vascular and cardiac surgery abroad

Colombia has accredited cardiovascular hospitals in Bogotá and Medellín performing bypass, valve, and endovascular procedures at a fraction of US billed charges. The cardiac lines in the table are included because "bypass surgery cost" and "angioplasty cost" are common searches, but cardiac surgery abroad is a decision to make with a cardiologist, not a price table: coordination of anticoagulation, rehab, and follow-up matters more than the saving. Varicose vein ablation and elective peripheral angioplasty are more straightforward to travel for.

Migraine surgery and temporal artery ligation

Ligation of the superficial temporal artery, and related migraine trigger-site decompression, is offered by some plastic surgeons for patients whose migraines respond to nerve blocks at that site. It is outpatient under local anesthesia with sedation, and the evidence base is modest; insurance usually treats it as investigational, so the $2,000 to $5,000 figure is what patients pay.

Credentials to verify before booking in Colombia. Surgeon license on ReTHUS, the national health-professional registry; specialty board membership (SCCOT for orthopedics and traumatology, ACC for general surgery, SCCP for plastic surgery); and the name of the hospital where the procedure is performed. JCI accreditation applies to hospitals, never to standalone clinics.

Why Colombia keeps appearing in these tables. The World Health Organization's 2000 World Health Report ranked Colombia's health system #22 in the world and #1 in the Western Hemisphere, ahead of the United States and Canada. That report has not been repeated, so for current verification pair it with two live anchors: JCI accreditation (a hospital-level credential; standalone clinics are not JCI-accredited) and ReTHUS, Colombia's national health-professional registry at rethus.gov.co, where any surgeon's license can be checked.

Price a vascular or nerve procedure at an accredited Colombian hospital

Send your imaging report and diagnosis. Our Medellín-based team routes to vascular, thoracic, or peripheral nerve surgeons and returns itemized quotes within 48 hours, or tells you plainly if the procedure is not one we can route.

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Frequently Asked

How much does thoracic outlet syndrome surgery cost?

$15,000 to $35,000 US cash-pay for first rib resection and scalenectomy; $6,500 to $12,000 at accredited Colombian hospitals with thoracic or vascular surgeons who do the procedure regularly.

How much does MALS surgery cost?

Laparoscopic median arcuate ligament release runs $15,000 to $30,000 in the US and $6,000 to $11,000 in Colombia. Confirm the diagnosis with a surgeon experienced in MALS before pricing; many scan-suggested cases do not benefit.

How much does brachial plexus surgery cost in the US?

$25,000 to $60,000 for nerve grafting or transfers, depending on complexity. Timing matters more than price: nerve transfers work best within 6 to 12 months of injury.

How much does compartment syndrome surgery cost?

Elective fasciotomy for chronic exertional compartment syndrome runs $5,000 to $12,000 US cash-pay and $2,200 to $4,500 in Colombia. Emergency fasciotomy after trauma is a different, much larger bill.

How much does temporal artery ligation cost?

$2,000 to $5,000 in the US, usually self-pay because insurers consider it investigational; $900 to $2,000 in Colombia.

How much does bypass surgery cost?

US billed charges for coronary bypass run $120,000 to $250,000, with insurers paying a fraction. At accredited Colombian cardiovascular hospitals, $28,000 to $50,000 all-in. Cardiac surgery abroad should be planned with your cardiologist.

Related Cost Guides

Editorial disclosure: Surgery Cost publishes independent price research. When readers request quotes through our Colombia partner network at Colombia Medical, we may receive a referral fee from participating clinics. Referral fees do not influence pricing shown or which providers we list. All figures are typical 2026 market ranges, not binding quotes. Request an itemized written estimate before booking any procedure. Nothing here is medical advice.