Exparel may improve economic, clinical outcomes after TKA
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Patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty who received Exparel experienced shorter hospital length of stay, increased home discharge, lower total hospitalization costs and decreased opioid use, according to published in Journal of Medical Economics.
Using the Premier Healthcare Database, Carl V. Asche, PhD, and colleagues identified 10 hospitals with the highest number of primary TKA procedures using Exparel (liposomal bupivacaine, Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc.). Researchers propensitypatients undergoing TKA who received liposomal bupivacaine with those who did not. included hospital length of stay, discharge status, 30-day same-hospital readmissions, total hospitalization costs and opioid consumption.
20,907 patients and 12,505 patients had commercial insurance. Patients who received liposomal bupivacaine had a 0.6 day shorter length of stay and were 1.6 times more likely to be discharged home, according to . Researchers patients who received liposomal bupivacaine had lower total hospitalization costs for the TKA procedure lower opioid consumption. noted no significant differences between the groups for 30-day readmission rates.
“The benefits of using Exparel in joint replacement procedures like TKAs are twofold—the reductions in opioid consumption and average hospital length of stay demonstrate an improved patient recovery experience, and the decrease in total hospitalization costs and increase in likelihood for patients to be discharged home demonstrate improved economic and clinical outcomes for the hospitals themselves,” Asche told Healio.com/Orthopedics. “Our analysis shows the utilization of Exparel supports optimized patient outcomes after TKA procedures, allowing for hospitals to provide high-quality care while controlling costs.” – by Casey Tingle
Disclosures: Asche reports he is a member of the Health Outcomes and Economics Advisory Board for Pacira Pharmaceuticals Inc. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.