The study, led by Kern Singh, MD, examined 66 consecutive patients undergoing single-level transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion either through open or minimally invasive procedures. There were 33 patients in each group and each patient had a diagnosis of degenerative disc disease or spondylolisthesis and stenosis.
The researchers found:
• Average surgical time was shorter for MIS (115.8 minutes) than open TLIF (186 minutes)
• Length of stay was shorter for MIS (2.3 days) than open TLIF (2.9 days)
• Anesthesia time and EBL time was lower in the MIS group
• VAS scores decreased for both groups, but were significantly lower for the MIS group
• MIS had lower direct hospital costs ($19,512) than the open group ($23,550)
• Implant costs were similar in both groups, but accounted for two-thirds of direct costs in the MIS group (13,764) and half in the open group ($13,778)
• Hospital payments were higher for the open TLIF patients than the MIS group
More Articles on Spine Surgeons:
Robotics in Spine Surgery: Pros, Cons & Whether it Makes Sense to Adopt Today
5 Spine & Neurosurgeons in New Leadership Positions
Bundled Payments for Spine Surgery: What’s On the Horizon
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.
