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Comparative Study
. 2020 Dec;8(6):1333-1339.
doi: 10.1007/s43390-020-00154-w. Epub 2020 Jul 6.

Cost-effectiveness of adult lumbar scoliosis surgery: an as-treated analysis from the adult symptomatic scoliosis surgery trial with 5-year follow-up

Steven D Glassman  1   2 , Leah Y Carreon  3 , Christopher I Shaffrey  4 , Michael P Kelly  5 , Charles H Crawford 3rd  1   2 , Elizabeth L Yanik  5 , Jon D Lurie  6 , R Shay Bess  7 , Christine R Baldus  4 , Keith H Bridwell  4
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Cost-effectiveness of adult lumbar scoliosis surgery: an as-treated analysis from the adult symptomatic scoliosis surgery trial with 5-year follow-up

Steven D Glassman et al. Spine Deform. 2020 Dec.

Abstract

Study design: Longitudinal comparative cohort.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report on the cost-effectiveness of surgical versus non-surgical treatment for Adult Symptomatic Lumbar Scoliosis (ASLS) using the as-treated data and provide a comparison to previously reported intent-to-treat (ITT) analysis. Adult spinal deformity is a relatively prevalent condition for which surgical treatment has become increasingly common but concerns surrounding complications, revision rates and cost-effectiveness remain unresolved. Of these issues, cost-effectiveness is perhaps the most difficult to quantify as the requisite data is difficult to obtain. The purpose of this study is to report on the cost-effectiveness of surgical versus non-surgical treatment for ASLS using the as-treated data and provide a comparison to previously reported ITT analysis.

Methods: Patients with at least 5-year follow-up data within the same treatment arm were included. Data collected every 3 months included use of nonoperative modalities, medications and employment status. Costs for surgeries and non-operative modalities were determined using Medicare Allowable rates. Medication costs were determined using the RedBook and indirect costs were calculated based on the reported employment status and income. Quality-Adjusted Life Years (QALY) was determined using the SF-6D.

Results: Of 226 patients, 195 patients (73 Non-op, 122 Op) met inclusion criteria. At 5 years, 29 (24%) patients in the Op group had a revision surgery of whom two had two revisions and one had three revisions. The cumulative cost for the Op group was $111,451 with a cumulative QALY gain of 2.3. The cumulative cost for the Non-Op group was $29,124 with a cumulative QALY gain of 0.4. This results in an ICER of $44,033 in favor of Op treatment.

Conclusion: This as-treated cost-effectiveness analysis demonstrates that surgical treatment for adult lumbar scoliosis becomes favorable at year-three, 1 year earlier than suggested by a previous intent-to-treat analysis.

Level of evidence: II.

Keywords: As-treated analysis; Cost-effectiveness; Lumbar scoliosis; Operative vs non-operative.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Flowchart of subjects in the first year of follow-up. Of the 122 subjects in the Op group, 9 (7%) subjects had a revision surgery within the first year after their index surgery. The cumulative cost for the Op group was $74,050 with a QALY gain of 0.1. The cumulative cost in the first year for the Non-Op group was $6,353 with a QALY gain of 0.0. The ICER was $704,897 per QALY gained.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Flowchart of subjects in the second year of follow-up. Sixteen patients (13%) patients in the Op group had a revision surgery. The cumulative cost over two years for the Op group was $79,325 with a QALY gain of 0.4. The cumulative cost over two years for the Non-Op group was $15,101 with a QALY gain of 0.1. The ICER was $196,721 per QALY gained
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Flowchart of subjects in the third year of follow-up. 22 patients (18%) in the Op group had a revision surgery with one patient having had two revisions, with a cumulative cost of $85,299 and QALY gain of 0.9. In the Non-Op group, the cumulative cost was $19,195 and QALY gain of 0.2. This results in an ICER of $93,405 per QALY gained
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Flowchart of subjects in the fourth year of follow-up, 25 (22%) patients had one revision and two patients had two revisions, with a cumulative cost of $95,572 and QALY gain of 1.5. The cumulative cost for the NonOp group was $22,953 with a QALY gain of 0.3. This results in an ICER of $57,309 per QALY gained.
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Flowchart of subjects in the fifth year of follow-up, 29 (24%) of patients in the Op group had a revision surgery of whom two had two revisions and one had three revisions. The cumulative cost for the Op group at five years was $111,451 with a cumulative QALY gain of 2.3. The cumulative cost for the Non-Op group was $29,124 with a cumulative QALY gain of 0.4. This results in an ICER of $44,033 per QALY gained.
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