This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
ACL reconstruction seen as cost-effective for competitive athletes with acute tears
Compared with physical therapy, recently published results showed ACL reconstruction was cost-effective when performed for competitive athletes with an ACL injury.
Using a cost-effectiveness analysis of ACL reconstruction compared with physical therapy for the initial management of acute ACL injuries in competitive athletes, researchers calculated the incremental cost, incremental effectiveness and incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER). Researchers evaluated costs and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) during a 6-year time horizon and analyzed results from a societal perspective. Researchers also obtained quality of life and probabilities of clinical outcomes from peer-reviewed literature. Costs were also compiled from a large academic hospital in the United States.
Compared with physical therapy, results showed an ICER of $22,702 per QALY gained for ACL reconstruction. Researchers noted the ICER was most sensitive to the quality of life of returning to play or not returning to play, as well as costs and duration of follow-up. However, according to results, the ICER was “relatively insensitive” regarding the rates and costs of complications, probabilities of return to play for both operative and conservative treatments, and discount rate. While considerable variation in the ICER was identified by Monte Carlo sensitivity analysis, researchers noted an 80% confidence that the ICER was less than $50,000 per QALY gained and 91% confidence that the ICER was less than $100,000 per QALY gained. – by Casey Tingle
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.