The study included 47 patients who underwent revision instrumented arthrodesis for pseudarthrosis-associated back pain. Here are five things to know from the study:
1. The average time between prior fusion and symptomatic pseudarthrosis development was 2.69±3.09 years. There weren’t any patients who developed symptomatic pseudoarthrosis after two years of revision surgery.
2. The average cumulative two-year QALY gain was 0.35.
3. The average total two-year cost for revision fusion was $41,631±$9,691.
4. The breakdown of average cost for the revision procedures is:
• Surgery: $23,865±$270
• Outpatient resource utilization: $4,885±$2,301
• Indirect cost: $12,879±$8,171
5. The average revision instrumented arthrodesis was associated with two-year cost per QALY gained of $118,945.
The study authors noted there was an improved two-year quality of life in patients who underwent surgery for pseudoarthrosis-related back pain, but “in our experience revision surgery was shown to be marginally cost-effective at $118,945 per QALY gained.”
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