Presentations How Cost Effective Are Spine Interventions? | Page 6

Geographic Variations in the Cost of Spine Surgery
Authors: Goz, Vadim; Rane, Ajinkya; Abtahi, Amir M.; Lawrence, Brandon
D.; Brodke, Darrel S.; Spiker, William Ryan
Source: Spine, Volume 40, Number 17, 01 September 2015, pp. 1380-1389(10)
´ Results. Combined professional and facility costs for a single-level ACDF had a national mean of
$13,899.
´ Total costs for a single-level PLF had a mean of $25,858.
´ Total costs for a primary TKA had a national mean of $13,039.
´ The cost increased to an average of $22,138 for TKA with major comorbidities.
´ Analysis of geographic trends showed statistically significant differences in total costs of PLF, TKA, and
TKA, with major complications or comorbidities between geographic regions (P < 0.01 for all).
´ Conclusion.
Three of the 4 procedures (PLF, TKA, and TKA with major complications or comorbidities) showed
statistically significant variation in cost between geographic regions.
´ The Midwest provided the lowest cost for all procedures. Similar geographic trends in the cost of spinal
fusions and TKAs suggest that these trends may not be limited to spine-related procedures. Surgical costs
were found to correlate with cost of living but were not associated with the population of the state.
´ These data shed light on the actual cost of common surgical procedures throughout the United States
and will allow further progress toward the development of cost-effective, value-driven care.