A new study published in Spinal Deformity aimed to find the threshold for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis surgery volume to equal value in outcomes and economies of scale.
The study highlights data from 3,224 patients who underwent spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and examined outcomes by length of stay and cost and surgeon volume. Study authors found:
1. The cost and length of stay had a significant decrease between surgeons who performed zero to five AIS surgeries per year and those who performed more than five procedures annually.
2. Between low and high volume hospitals — those with zero to 15 procedures and 15 or more procedures — the cost difference was $1,500, which isn't statistically significant.
3. Risk-based volume stratification showed a direct relationship between volume and value for surgeons and hospitals, according to the study's authors.
4. The study authors noted there wasn't a consensus on a minimum number of procedures for hospitals, but the threshold approached 10 to 15 annual procedures.
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