Cost comparison of genioplasty: when indicated, wire osteosynthesis is more cost effective than plate and screw fixation

Abstract

Purpose: This retrospective study was conducted to determine the difference in the cost of genioplasty according to the osseous fixation technique used.

Patients and methods: A retrospective study among orthognathic surgery patients treated over a 54-month period ending in June 30, 2011 was conducted. Immediately post surgery, panoramic and cephalometric radiographs of these patients were assessed to determine the presence of genioplasty procedure and the type of fixation used. The cost of the actual fixation used by the surgeons was compared with that which the cost would have been had the surgeons used the criteria described in the hypotheses, for plate and screws fixation when genioplasty is performed.

Results: A review of 1,498 orthognathic surgery patients revealed that 473 of these patients underwent genioplasty. Out of 473 patients, 425 had genioplasty to either advance and-or superiorly reposition the chin. Of these, 230 had wire osteosynthesis and 243 had some form of rigid fixation. The unit cost of fixation for genioplasty when wire osteosynthesis is used is less than C$5.00. The mean unit cost estimate in our patient group when pre-bent plates are used was C$542.00. All 230 patients in whom wire osteosynthesis was used demonstrated stable fixation of the bony parts and no immediate postsurgical adjustment was required in any patient.

Conclusions: For patients requiring genioplasty to advance and-or superiorly reposition the chin, it is possible to use wire osteosynthesis to achieve accurate and stable fixation while reducing the fixation cost by more than C$500.00 per case. The surgeon should include cost considerations in the selection of treatment methods.