A new study may help people trying to decide whether to have anterior cruciate ligament surgery. The study, published in the Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, assesses the economic and societal impact of ACL surgery in relation to the cost of the procedure. Researchers confirmed a significant cost savings to society over time.
The study found the average lifetime societal benefit of reconstruction surgery is $50,000 per patient, with the majority of the societal savings coming from the patient’s ability to return to a more functional and pain-free lifestyle. Additionally, the surgery minimizes any further damage to the knee that can lead to the development of knee osteoarthritis in the future.
In fact, the authors estimate lifetime societal savings in the U.S. of about $10.1 billion for the ACL surgeries annually, according to a news release from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
“We know ACL patients who need it, benefit from surgery, but until now, the true value of ACL reconstruction surgery has been hard to quantify,” said Dr. John R. Tongue past-president of the AAOS. “Considering many ACL patients are young and eager to get back to their active lives, this study provides a key perspective they can look to when evaluating surgery versus rehabilitation.”
More than 200,000 ACL injuries are reported in the United States annually, often by active young adult and adolescent athletes. Treatment may involve rehabilitation, or surgery and rehabilitation, depending on the severity of the injury. Many patients and their families struggle with treatment decisions, according to the news release.
While an ACL injury can severely limit a person’s level of activity, it can also result in long-term repercussions such as an increased risk of knee osteoarthritis. Osteoarthritis can lead to debilitating pain, making walking and standing difficult, the news release states.
Each ACL injury is different and can range from a stretched ligament to a partial tear to a complete rupture. Equally so, each type of treatment is different, from structured rehabilitation to surgical reconstruction followed by rehabilitation. Patients or their family members should have complete ample information about costs, potential limitations and benefits of each type of treatment before making their decision.
In situations where a patient is active, such as a high school or college athlete, and would like to return to that active lifestyle after treatment, surgery to repair a partial or complete tear is often the best option, with a long-term success rate of 82 to 95 percent.
Rehabilitation can also be successful for patients depending upon their activity level, age and the severity of their injury. Researchers say the study gives patients the opportunity to compare direct and indirect costs of surgical reconstruction or rehabilitation. It may also help them understand the overall benefits of each treatment relative to the societal and economic savings.
“In younger patients, surgery for an ACL tear is usually the best option for getting them back on their feet and reducing the likelihood of arthritis down the road,” said Dr. Mininder S. Kocher, study author. “Patients and their families are often worried about their ability to return to sports, their mobility in the future and the cost of the surgery. This study sheds light on all three of these important factors.”
To conduct the study, researchers reviewed data from the randomized controlled trial known as the KANON study, and the Multicenter Orthopaedic Outcomes Network (MOON) ACL reconstruction prospective cohort as well as literature.
“This is the first study to demonstrate the importance of a societal perspective when considering the costs and benefits of ACL repair and policies that will affect access to this procedure,” said study author and health care economist Lane Koenig, Ph.D. “The benefit of ACL reconstruction has long been known by patients who have returned to their active lifestyle following the surgery. This study provides a foundation for assessing the societal benefits of procedures and health services that will add to the conversation people are having about improved, cost-conscious health care.”
Source: AAOS news release
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