Researchers examined 484 consecutive patients undergoing treatment for adult spinal deformity from January 2005 to January 2011 with a minimum of three levels fused. Costs were assessed in 2010 dollars and discounted at 3.5 percent per year.
The researchers found:
1. Total hospital costs were $120,394 on average.
2. Primary surgery costs were $103,143 on average.
3. Readmissions costs were $67,262 per patient.
4. Operating room costs were $70,514 per patient.
5. OR costs were 59 percent of total hospital costs.
6. Total hospital costs increased after primary surgery from $111,807 at one-year follow up to $126,323 at four-year follow up.
7. Physician preferences accounted for $14,780 of other wise unexplained OR cost differences.
8. Readmission increased the average cost of ASD surgery by more than 170 percent.
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