A 90-day episode-of-care cost analysis of robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty

• Published in: Journal of comparative effectiveness research Vol. 8; no. 5; pp. 327 - 336
• Main Authors: Cool, Christina L, Jacofsky, David J, Seeger, Kelly A, Sodhi, Nipun, Mont, Michael A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Future Medicine Ltd 01.04.2019
• Subjects: Accuracy; Arthritis; claims analysis; Cost analysis; Diagnosis related groups; DRGs; economic utility; episode-of-care; health economics; Hospitals; Identification; Joint surgery; knee arthroplasty; knee osteoarthritis; MAKO; managed care; Medical imaging; Medicare; NMR; Nuclear magnetic resonance; Patient satisfaction; Robotics; TKA; total knee arthroplasty; Trends; United States > US; knee arthroplasty; total knee arthroplasty; knee osteoarthritis; economic utility; episode-of-care; MAKO; TKA; claims analysis; managed care; health economics
• ISSN: 2042-6305; 2042-6313; 2042-6313
• DOI: 10.2217/cer-2018-0136

To evaluate 90-day episode-of-care (EOC) costs associated with robotic-arm assisted total knee arthroplasty (rTKA) versus manual TKA (mTKA). TKA procedures were identified in Medicare 100% data. Accounting for baseline differences, propensity score matching was performed 1:5. 90-day EOC and index costs, lengths-of-stay, discharge disposition and readmission rates were assessed. A total of 519 rTKA and 2595 mTKA were included. Overall 90-day EOC costs were US$2391 less for rTKA (p < 0.0001). Over 90% of patients in both cohorts utilized post-acute services, with rTKA accruing fewer costs than mTKA. Post-acute savings can be attributed to discharge destination. rTKA incurred an overall lower 90-day EOC cost versus mTKA. Savings were driven by fewer readmissions and an economically beneficial discharge destinations.