Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective

Scott J Luhmann,1–3 Eoin M McAughey,4 Stacey J Ackerman,5 David B Bumpass,6 Richard E McCarthy6 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA; 3Department...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Luhmann SJ, McAughey EM, Ackerman SJ, Bumpass DB, McCarthy RE
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Dove Medical Press 2018-03-01
Series:ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.dovepress.com/cost-analysis-of-a-growth-guidance-system-compared-with-traditional-an-peer-reviewed-article-CEOR
_version_ 1819168837454528512
author Luhmann SJ
McAughey EM
Ackerman SJ
Bumpass DB
McCarthy RE
author_facet Luhmann SJ
McAughey EM
Ackerman SJ
Bumpass DB
McCarthy RE
author_sort Luhmann SJ
collection DOAJ
description Scott J Luhmann,1–3 Eoin M McAughey,4 Stacey J Ackerman,5 David B Bumpass,6 Richard E McCarthy6 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA; 3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA; 4Covance Market Access Services Inc., London, UK; 5Covance Market Access Services Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; 6Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Purpose: Treating early-onset scoliosis (EOS) with traditional growing rods (TGR) is effective but requires periodic surgical lengthening, risking complications. Alternatives include magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) that lengthen noninvasively and the growth guidance system (GGS), which obviate the need for active, distractive lengthenings. Previous studies have reported promising clinical effectiveness for GGS; however the direct medical costs of GGS compared to TGR and MCGR have not yet been explored. Methods: To estimate the cost of GGS compared with MCGR and TGR for EOS an economic model was developed from the perspective of a US integrated health care delivery system. Using dual-rod constructs, the model estimated the cumulative costs associated with initial implantation, rod lengthenings (TGR, MCGR), revisions due to device failure, surgical-site infections, device exchange, and final spinal fusion over a 6-year episode of care. Model parameters were from peer-reviewed, published literature. Medicare payments were used as a proxy for provider costs. Costs (2016 US$) were discounted 3% annually. Results: Over a 6-year episode of care, GGS was associated with fewer invasive surgeries per patient than TGR (GGS: 3.4; TGR: 14.4) and lower cumulative costs than MCGR and TGR, saving $25,226 vs TGR. Sensitivity analyses showed that results were sensitive to changes in construct costs, rod breakage rates, months between lengthenings, and TGR lengthening setting of care. Conclusion: Within the model, GGS resulted in fewer invasive surgeries and deep surgical site infections than TGR, and lower cumulative costs per patient than both MCGR and TGR, over a 6-year episode of care. The analysis did not account for family disruption, pain, psychological distress, or compromised health-related quality of life associated with invasive TGR lengthenings, nor for potential patient anxiety surrounding the frequent MCGR lengthenings. Further analyses focusing strictly on current generation technologies should be considered for future research. Keywords: early-onset scoliosis, cost analysis, growth guidance system, magnetically controlled growing rod, traditional growing rod
first_indexed 2024-12-22T19:09:57Z
format Article
id doaj.art-2f150ad8bb41497f8302b0e291d7154a
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1178-6981
language English
last_indexed 2024-12-22T19:09:57Z
publishDate 2018-03-01
publisher Dove Medical Press
record_format Article
series ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research
spelling doaj.art-2f150ad8bb41497f8302b0e291d7154a2022-12-21T18:15:42ZengDove Medical PressClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research1178-69812018-03-01Volume 1017918737286Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspectiveLuhmann SJMcAughey EMAckerman SJBumpass DBMcCarthy REScott J Luhmann,1–3 Eoin M McAughey,4 Stacey J Ackerman,5 David B Bumpass,6 Richard E McCarthy6 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA; 2Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis Shriners Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA; 3Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, St. Louis, MO, USA; 4Covance Market Access Services Inc., London, UK; 5Covance Market Access Services Inc., San Diego, CA, USA; 6Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA Purpose: Treating early-onset scoliosis (EOS) with traditional growing rods (TGR) is effective but requires periodic surgical lengthening, risking complications. Alternatives include magnetically controlled growing rods (MCGR) that lengthen noninvasively and the growth guidance system (GGS), which obviate the need for active, distractive lengthenings. Previous studies have reported promising clinical effectiveness for GGS; however the direct medical costs of GGS compared to TGR and MCGR have not yet been explored. Methods: To estimate the cost of GGS compared with MCGR and TGR for EOS an economic model was developed from the perspective of a US integrated health care delivery system. Using dual-rod constructs, the model estimated the cumulative costs associated with initial implantation, rod lengthenings (TGR, MCGR), revisions due to device failure, surgical-site infections, device exchange, and final spinal fusion over a 6-year episode of care. Model parameters were from peer-reviewed, published literature. Medicare payments were used as a proxy for provider costs. Costs (2016 US$) were discounted 3% annually. Results: Over a 6-year episode of care, GGS was associated with fewer invasive surgeries per patient than TGR (GGS: 3.4; TGR: 14.4) and lower cumulative costs than MCGR and TGR, saving $25,226 vs TGR. Sensitivity analyses showed that results were sensitive to changes in construct costs, rod breakage rates, months between lengthenings, and TGR lengthening setting of care. Conclusion: Within the model, GGS resulted in fewer invasive surgeries and deep surgical site infections than TGR, and lower cumulative costs per patient than both MCGR and TGR, over a 6-year episode of care. The analysis did not account for family disruption, pain, psychological distress, or compromised health-related quality of life associated with invasive TGR lengthenings, nor for potential patient anxiety surrounding the frequent MCGR lengthenings. Further analyses focusing strictly on current generation technologies should be considered for future research. Keywords: early-onset scoliosis, cost analysis, growth guidance system, magnetically controlled growing rod, traditional growing rodhttps://www.dovepress.com/cost-analysis-of-a-growth-guidance-system-compared-with-traditional-an-peer-reviewed-article-CEORearly-onset scoliosiscost analysisgrowth guidance systemmagnetically controlled growing rodtraditional growing rod
spellingShingle Luhmann SJ
McAughey EM
Ackerman SJ
Bumpass DB
McCarthy RE
Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
ClinicoEconomics and Outcomes Research
early-onset scoliosis
cost analysis
growth guidance system
magnetically controlled growing rod
traditional growing rod
title Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
title_full Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
title_fullStr Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
title_full_unstemmed Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
title_short Cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early-onset scoliosis: a US-based integrated health care delivery system perspective
title_sort cost analysis of a growth guidance system compared with traditional and magnetically controlled growing rods for early onset scoliosis a us based integrated health care delivery system perspective
topic early-onset scoliosis
cost analysis
growth guidance system
magnetically controlled growing rod
traditional growing rod
url https://www.dovepress.com/cost-analysis-of-a-growth-guidance-system-compared-with-traditional-an-peer-reviewed-article-CEOR
work_keys_str_mv AT luhmannsj costanalysisofagrowthguidancesystemcomparedwithtraditionalandmagneticallycontrolledgrowingrodsforearlyonsetscoliosisausbasedintegratedhealthcaredeliverysystemperspective
AT mcaugheyem costanalysisofagrowthguidancesystemcomparedwithtraditionalandmagneticallycontrolledgrowingrodsforearlyonsetscoliosisausbasedintegratedhealthcaredeliverysystemperspective
AT ackermansj costanalysisofagrowthguidancesystemcomparedwithtraditionalandmagneticallycontrolledgrowingrodsforearlyonsetscoliosisausbasedintegratedhealthcaredeliverysystemperspective
AT bumpassdb costanalysisofagrowthguidancesystemcomparedwithtraditionalandmagneticallycontrolledgrowingrodsforearlyonsetscoliosisausbasedintegratedhealthcaredeliverysystemperspective
AT mccarthyre costanalysisofagrowthguidancesystemcomparedwithtraditionalandmagneticallycontrolledgrowingrodsforearlyonsetscoliosisausbasedintegratedhealthcaredeliverysystemperspective