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Generic cannulated screws provide equal results, cost-saving measures

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Although generic cannulated sacroiliac screws are less expensive alternatives to conventional implants, they perform as well as their counterparts, according to researchers from Nevada.

Peter L. Althausen, MD, MBA, from the Reno Orthopaedic Clinic in Reno, Nev., presented research at the Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting along with another study with similar results.

The researchers saw no significant difference in estimated blood loss, operative time, loosening, screw deformation, screw cutout or complication rates in 50 patients treated with generic cannulated screws and 62 patients with conventional screws, according to the abstract.

“These studies demonstrate the ability of generic implants to significantly lower implant costs to hospitals, insurance carriers and patients while providing high quality care, potentially saving the health care system billions of dollars in unnecessary costs,” Althausen stated in a press release.

Althausen noted that his hospital saved $14,742, or 62%, in implant costs for their calendar year. The authors suggested that the increase of generic products in orthopedics could create a similar cost-savings effect seen in the pharmaceutical industry with generic medications, according to the abstract.

Reference:

Kauk JR. Posters #17 and #67. Presented at: Orthopaedic Trauma Association Annual Meeting; Oct. 3-6, 2012; Minneapolis.

Disclosure: Althausen receives stock options from The Orthopedic Implant Company, receives financial support from Smith & Nephew, Synthes and Stryker, is on the editorial board for the Journal of Orthopaedic Trauma, and is a board member on the OTA Fund Development Committee, OTA Nominating Committee, and AAOS Subcommittee on Trauma.