Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University researchers investigated the cost-effectiveness of primary and revision surgery for treating adult spinal deformity in a new study published in Spine.
Researchers retrospectively analyzed records for 56 patients who received primary surgery and 63 patients who received revision surgery for ASD. The study revealed two-year spine-related medical costs as well as two-year cost utility ratios assessed against a threshold of $154,458 per quality-adjusted life-year gained.
Here are five findings.
1. At two years, both patient groups experienced significant improvements in health-related quality-of-life scores.
2. Researchers found median surgical and spine-related costs at two-year follow-up were $137,990 for primary surgery and $115,509 for revision surgery.
3. The study saw two-year QALY gains of 0.36 for primary surgery patients and 0.40 for revision surgery patients.
4. The primary instrumented fusion correlated with a median two-year cost per QALY of $197,809, compared to $129,950 for revision surgery.
5. Researchers concluded revision surgery for ASD was cost-effective at two years.