Document Detail


Is intraoperative CT of posterior cervical spine instrumentation cost-effective and does it reduce complications?
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  20922584     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Symptomatic multilevel cervical myelopathy is often addressed using posterior decompression using two-dimensional fluoroscopy. Intraoperative three-dimensional fluoroscopy provides more accurate information on the position of instrumentation to prevent screw-related complications.
QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: We documented the incidence of hardware-related complications and evaluate cost-effectiveness when using intraoperative three-dimensional fluoroscopy (ISO-C CT) in posterior cervical spine surgery.
METHODS: Records from 87 patients who underwent posterior cervical decompression and instrumented fusion for multilevel cervical spondylosis with myelopathy were retrospectively reviewed. Patients in whom a lateral mass, pars, or pedicle screw was removed or revised based on intraoperative ISO-C CT was recorded. Cost analysis was performed using 2008 Medicare reimbursements and was compared against cost estimates for ISO-C CT.
RESULTS: Seven patients (8%) had screws changed based on the results of the three-dimensional fluoroscopy: 0.5% of lateral mass screws, 3.1% of thoracic pedicle screws, and 15% of C2 pars screws. No patients who had evaluation of hardware with the ISO-C CT required a return to surgery for complications secondary to hardware failure, malposition, or cutout.
CONCLUSIONS: Cost savings are achieved if use of intraoperative ISO-C CT prevents eight patients from requiring a return to the operating room. If every malpositioned screw has the potential to be symptomatic, then 240 patients must have screws placed to be cost-effective. ISO-C CT can safely replace postoperative CT as the standard of care in patients undergoing posterior cervical spinal fusion.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, economic and decision analyses. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.
Authors:
Andrew C Hecht; Steven M Koehler; Janelle C Laudone; Arthur Jenkins; Sheeraz Qureshi
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Clinical orthopaedics and related research     Volume:  469     ISSN:  1528-1132     ISO Abbreviation:  Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res.     Publication Date:  2011 Apr 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2011-03-04     Completed Date:  2011-05-12     Revised Date:  2012-04-02    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0075674     Medline TA:  Clin Orthop Relat Res     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  1035-41     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Leni and Peter W May Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mount Sinai Medical Center, 5 East 98th Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10029, USA. andrew.hecht@mountsinai.org
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Adolescent
Adult
Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Bone Screws
Cervical Vertebrae / radiography,  surgery*
Child
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Decompression, Surgical* / adverse effects,  economics
Female
Hospital Costs
Humans
Imaging, Three-Dimensional
Incidence
Insurance, Health, Reimbursement
Intraoperative Care / economics
Male
Medicare / economics
Middle Aged
Postoperative Complications / economics,  etiology,  prevention & control*
Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted
Retrospective Studies
Spinal Cord Diseases / economics,  radiography,  surgery*
Spinal Fusion* / adverse effects,  economics,  instrumentation
Spondylosis / economics,  radiography,  surgery*
Tomography, X-Ray Computed* / economics
Treatment Outcome
United States
Young Adult

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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