COST ANALYSIS OF TOTAL HIP ARTHROPLASTY REVISION FOR INFECTION

Abstract

Background: The treatment of deep infection following total hip arthroplasty (THA) is long and costly. However, there are few studies in the literature analysing the cost of total hip arthroplasty revision, especially for infection. The purpose of this study was to determine the cost of THA revision performed for infection and to compare it with the cost of revision for aseptic loosening on one hand, as well as the cost of primary THA, on the other hand.

Methods: From January to December 2006, we performed in our hospital 474 primary THA, 57 revisions for aseptic loosening and 40 revisions for infection. We identified for each procedure areas of cost: preoperative evaluation, surgical procedure, medical procedure including intravenous antimicrobial therapy during hospitalization, post-operative follow-up and physiotherapy. For the costs of preoperative evaluation, we used the refunding rate of the CNAM (the public health insurance company) applicable since September 2005. The total cost of the treatment includes direct and indirect costs, corresponding to the expenses of medical and surgical entities involved in the procedure, the operating charges of the hospital and the net expenses of general services. The cost of primary total hip arthroplasty was used as the reference cost.

Results: The average duration of hospital stay was 6 days for a primary THA, 8 days for a revision for aseptic loosening and 24 days for septic revision. The rate of transfer to a hospital for care-following and physiotherapy was 55% for a primary THA, 70% for aseptic revision and 65% for septic revision. Moreover, the rate of the hospitalization at home for the septic revision after the surgery was 30%. The cost of the revision of THA for aseptic loosening was 1.4 fold the cost of primary THA. In case of septic revision, the cost was 3.3 fold.

Discussion: The economic impact of the deep infection following THA is important. The additional cost is due to a longer duration of hospital stay and rehabilitation requiring more human and material resources.

Conclusions: The cost of revision THA for infection is high. The procedures of care must be optimized in order to increase the treatment success rate and minimise the total cost.