Study authors examined data from a prospective, multicenter cervical deformity database for patients who underwent cervical deformity surgery. The patients all had one year of follow-up and costs were assigned with the Medicare one-year average reimbursement rate. Eighty-four patients were included in the study.
Here are five findings.
1. The costs associated with patients of the most common indications include:
• Nine or more level posterior fusion: $76,617
• Four to eight level posterior fusion: $40,596
• Four to eight level posterior fusion with anterior fusion: $31,392
• Four to eight level anterior fusion: $31,392
• Four to eight level posterior re-fusion: $35,371
2. On average, the reimbursement was $55,097 at one year after surgery.
3. Eight patients required revision surgery and three patients died during the one-year postoperative period.
4. The cost-per-QALY for patients at the one-year follow up was $646,958 when using the EuroQol 5D calculations and $477,316 when using the NDI SF6D calculations.
5. For patients who are able to sustain the first year benefits, they will reach the higher threshold of cost-effectiveness in three to 4.5 years postoperatively.
“Longer follow-up is needed for a more definitive cost-analysis, but this data is an important first step in justifying cost-utility ratio for cervical deformity correction,” concluded the study authors.
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