TY - JOUR
T1 - Direct Cost of Surgically Treated Adult Traumatic Brachial Plexus Injuries
AU - Dy, Christopher J.
AU - Lingampalli, Nithya
AU - Peacock, Kate
AU - Olsen, Margaret A.
AU - Ray, Wilson Z.
AU - Brogan, David M.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Authors
PY - 2020/3
Y1 - 2020/3
N2 - Purpose: The economic implications of brachial plexus injuries (BPI) in the United States are not well understood. The purpose of our study was to quantify the direct costs associated with surgical treatment of BPI after traumatic injury in adults, which would enable future study of the societal value of surgical reconstruction. Methods: Using an administrative database of patients with commercial insurance, a cohort of patients aged 18 to 64 years with BPI treated surgically from 2007 to 2015 was assembled and assessed for index admission associated with BPI surgery and all payments toward claims (including medical, surgical, therapy, and pharmacy claims) for 1 year after surgery. Results: Among 189 patients undergoing surgery for BPI, median direct payments were $38,816 (interquartile range: $18,209 to $72,411; minimum: $3,512; maximum: $732,641). Conclusions: Relative to recently published data for the indirect cost of traumatic BPI (median: $801,723), direct payments for 1 year after surgical treatment represent 4.6% of the total long-term cost of BPI. In the context of existing literature demonstrating cost-effectiveness in models of BPI surgical care, our data suggest that surgery and other interventions to maximize return to work after traumatic BPI in adults may be beneficial to society. Type of study/level of evidence: Economic and Decision Analyses IV.
AB - Purpose: The economic implications of brachial plexus injuries (BPI) in the United States are not well understood. The purpose of our study was to quantify the direct costs associated with surgical treatment of BPI after traumatic injury in adults, which would enable future study of the societal value of surgical reconstruction. Methods: Using an administrative database of patients with commercial insurance, a cohort of patients aged 18 to 64 years with BPI treated surgically from 2007 to 2015 was assembled and assessed for index admission associated with BPI surgery and all payments toward claims (including medical, surgical, therapy, and pharmacy claims) for 1 year after surgery. Results: Among 189 patients undergoing surgery for BPI, median direct payments were $38,816 (interquartile range: $18,209 to $72,411; minimum: $3,512; maximum: $732,641). Conclusions: Relative to recently published data for the indirect cost of traumatic BPI (median: $801,723), direct payments for 1 year after surgical treatment represent 4.6% of the total long-term cost of BPI. In the context of existing literature demonstrating cost-effectiveness in models of BPI surgical care, our data suggest that surgery and other interventions to maximize return to work after traumatic BPI in adults may be beneficial to society. Type of study/level of evidence: Economic and Decision Analyses IV.
KW - Brachial plexus injury
KW - Cost of surgery
KW - Surgical reconstruction
KW - Trauma
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078886128&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jhsg.2019.12.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jhsg.2019.12.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 32864587
AN - SCOPUS:85078886128
SN - 2589-5141
VL - 2
SP - 77
EP - 79
JO - Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online
JF - Journal of Hand Surgery Global Online
IS - 2
ER -