Health Care Resource Utilization in Commercially Insured Patients Undergoing Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion for Degenerative Cervical Pathology

Abstract

Study Design: Retrospective review of an administrative database. Objectives: The aim of our study was to investigate the distribution of spending for the entire episode of care among nonelderly, commercially insured patients undergoing elective, inpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) surgeries for degenerative cervical pathology. Methods: Using a private insurance claims database, we identified patients who underwent single-level, inpatient ACDF for degenerative spinal disease. Patients were selected using a combination of Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) and International Classification of Diseases (ICD) codes. Entire episode of care was defined as 6-months before (preoperative) to 6 months after (postoperative) the surgical admission. Results: In our cohort containing 33 209 patients, perioperative median spending per patient (MSPP) within the year encompassing surgery totaled $37 020 (interquartile range [IQR] $28 363-$49 206), with preoperative, surgical admission, and postoperative spending accounting for 9.8%, 80.7%, and 9.5% of total spending, respectively. Preoperatively, MSPP was $3109 (IQR $1806-$5215), 48% of patients underwent physical therapy, and 31% underwent injections in the 6 months period prior to surgery. Postoperatively, MSPP was $1416 (IQR $398-$3962), and unplanned hospital readmission (6% incidence) accounted for 33% of the overall postoperative spending. Discharge to a nonhome discharge disposition was associated with higher postoperative spending ($14 216) compared with patients discharged home ($1468) and home with home care ($2903), P < .001. Conclusion: Understanding the elements and distribution of perioperative spending for the episode of care in patients undergoing ACDF surgery for degenerative conditions is important for health care planning and resource allocation.

Investigating the mechanical effect of the sagittal angle of the cervical facet joint on the cervical intervertebral disc

“…Degenerative changes in the cervical spine pose a huge burden to a society based on health expenditures and exhibit significant socioeconomic impacts on the allocation of medical diagnosis and clinical management resources. 1 , 2 Therefore, to prevent degenerative cervical spinal disease and choose the appropriate treatment method, it is important to identify factors that promote the degenerative process.…”

Anterior Cervical Discectomy and Fusion With Structural Allograft is Associated With Lower Postoperative Health Care Utilization and Reoperations Compared With Cage Implants

“…Thus, precise financial characterization of ACDF is vital to estimate and reduce costs. Several studies have analyzed the cost of ACDF before surgery, 16,17 during hospitalization for surgery, 15,[17][18][19][20][21][22] and after discharge from the hospital 17,21,23 ; however, few reports address cost differences introduced by the heterogeneity of implant configurations selected by spine surgeons. Existing studies were performed outside the United States, 24 exclude one of the aforementioned implant configurations 5,25 or patients older than 65 years, 25 report costs only for the index hospitalization, 5,24,25 or do not perform component cost analyses.…”