Risk Factors for Readmission following Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Health Services Research
• Biostatistics

Background:

• Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is a common orthopedic procedure.
• Hospital readmissions after ACL reconstruction can increase healthcare costs and impact patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify independent risk factors for 90-day hospital readmission following ACL reconstruction.
• To determine the associated healthcare costs of readmissions after ACL reconstruction.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of a private insurance claims database (2010-2015).
• Identification of patients undergoing ACL reconstruction using ICD-9 and CPT codes.
• Multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for all-cause 90-day readmission.

Main Results:

• 1.2% of 90,263 patients experienced 90-day hospital readmission.
• Independent risk factors for readmission included cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, concomitant medial collateral ligament (MCL)/lateral collateral ligament (LCL) reconstruction, concomitant posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) reconstruction, and age (44-65 years).
• Female sex was associated with decreased odds of readmission. Each readmission incurred an estimated $17,841 in healthcare payments.

Conclusions:

• Cerebrovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, combined ligament reconstructions, and older age are significant risk factors for readmission after ACL reconstruction.
• Readmissions are associated with substantial healthcare costs, highlighting the need for targeted preventive strategies.
• Further research into mitigating readmission risks in specific patient populations is warranted.