This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Use of synthetic cartilage implant for hallux rigidus yielded greater cost vs MTP joint arthrodesis
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
LAS VEGAS — Results presented at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting showed hallux rigidus treated with a synthetic cartilage implant had a greater direct aggregate cost than treatment with a metatarsophalangeal joint arthrodesis.
Shane Rothermel, MD, and colleagues estimated hardware removal rates for metatarsophalangeal (MTP) fusion and failure rates for synthetic cartilage implant and MTP fusion through an analysis of available literature. Researchers determined costs for implants using direct costs at a single institution and data reported in the literature for OR time. They performed a sensitivity analysis to examine costs.
“In this study, the total direct cost for MTP joint arthrodesis was $3,632, whereas the total direct cost for synthetic hydrogel implant was $4,565,” Rothermel said in his presentation here. “If removal of implants were required following MTP joint arthrodesis, the direct cost was calculated to be $740 based on OR times.”
When a sensitivity analysis assessed failure rates at 0% and 15% for synthetic cartilage implant and MTP joint fusion, respectively, Rothermel noted the total direct costs of the synthetic cartilage implant were still more expensive.
“This analysis demonstrated that the cost of the synthetic hydrogel implant needed to be reduced to $2,783, which was a 27% reduction, before the total direct cost was comparable to the cost of the MTP joint fusion implants,” Rothermel said. – by Casey Tingle
Reference:
Rothermel S, et al. Abstract 173. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting; March 12-16, 2019; Las Vegas.
Disclosure: Rothermel reports no relevant financial disclosures.