Cost-effectiveness analysis of arthroscopic surgery versus open surgery in rotator cuff repair

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to compare the open and arthroscopic rotator cuff tear treatment methods in terms of cost-effectiveness.Materials and Methods: This study includes a prospective method of a total of 104 patients, 52 with open surgery and 52 witharthroscopic surgery, in the treatment of rotator cuff tears. Cost calculations of the treatment methods were obtained from patientinvoices. Oxford Shoulder Score and Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire were used for effectiveness calculations. The costeffectiveness comparison was conducted using the Incremental Cost Effectiveness Ratio (ICER) assessment. The difference betweencosts of open and arthroscopic surgery was analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 package program, with Mann-Whitney U test.Results: The average cost per patient was 4,838.7 Turkish Liras (TL) (866.22 USD) in open surgery and 5,770.33 TL (1,033.00 USD)according to the exchange rate at the time of writing, in arthroscopic surgery. Oxford Shoulder Score was 21.15 in open surgery and20.83 in arthroscopic surgery. Short Form-36 Health Survey Questionnaire score was 61.92 in open surgery and 63.17 in arthroscopicsurgery. The ICER calculated according to the Oxford Shoulder Score was – 2,912.37 TL (521,37 USD), while the ICER calculatedaccording to the General Health Perception sub-scale of Short Form-36 was 745.57 TL (133,47 USD). In addition, statistical significantdifference was found between the surgery, medication, medical and surgical materials, hospitalization and average cost of thosetreated with open surgery and those treated with arthroscopic surgery (p