According to its broadest definition, a therapeutic procedure is any medical or surgical procedure that is performed in order to repair, remove or otherwise heal any previously determined health concern. Common therapeutic procedures include a broad spectrum of interventions from immunizations and chemotherapy, to psychotherapy and the prescription of drugs and medicines.

Surgical therapeutic procedures are performed once a specific health issue has been diagnosed and a physical procedure is deemed necessary. The general rule is to attempt other therapeutic interventions when possible. Surgery is however, the only cure for a variety of health problems. Therefore it is sometimes chosen as a therapeutic procedure, rather than a purely medical approach. In some cases, it can only treat the symptoms or the ramifications of a condition.