Researchers investigated the costliness of dual mobility implants for primary total hip arthroplasty, in a study published in The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery.
The study compared the cost-effectiveness of DM implants with conventional bearings for primary total hip arthroplasty. Researchers leveraged a markov model analysis, with costs derived from the literature, the National Inpatient Sample and CMS. The study performed an analysis for a patient's lifetime, with costs and effectiveness discounted at 3 percent annually.
Here are six insights:
1. Researchers found DM total hip arthroplasty had lower accrued costs of $39,008 compared to conventional total hip arthroplasty costs of $40,031.
2. In terms of higher accrued utility, DM total hip arthroplasty had 13.18 quality-adjusted life years compared to conventional total hip arthroplasty's 13.13 quality-adjusted life years.
3. The study revealed DM total hip arthroplasty was no longer cost-effective when its implant costs surpassed conventional total hip arthroplasty costs by $1,023.
4. The cost-effectiveness threshold for DM implants was $5,287 greater than the threshold for conventional implants.
5. "When the annualized incremental probability of revision from any unforeseen failure mechanism or mechanisms exceeded 0.29 percent," DM implants were not cost-effective, according to the study abstract.
6. Researchers concluded DM implants had the potential for cost savings for routine primary total hip arthroplasty if the implants aligned with certain economic and clinical benchmarks.