Comparative Cost Analysis of Single-use Sterile versus Reprocessed Distal Radius Volar Plate Sets

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic surgery
• Surgical cost analysis
• Medical device economics

Background:

• Rising incidence of distal radius fractures (DRF) necessitates cost-effective treatments.
• Open reduction internal fixation (ORIF) is a common DRF treatment.
• Sterile packed single-use kits (SK) are emerging as a cost-containment strategy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the cost-effectiveness of single-use kits (SK) versus conventional reprocessed surgical sets (RS) for DRF treatment.
• To evaluate the financial impact of SKs in the context of current healthcare cost containment efforts.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of surgical center data over four years.
• Calculation of reprocessing costs for surgical sets (RS) including instrumentation, implants, and sterilization.
• Estimation of SK costs based on manufacturer list prices.
• Assessment of surgical delay incidence and associated costs through surgeon surveys and financial reports.

Main Results:

• Reprocessed surgical sets (RS) incurred average costs of $2,978 per case (instruments: $47, implants: $2,882, sterilization: $39).
• Single-use kits (SK) cost $1,667 per case.
• A cost difference of $1,313 per case favored SKs over RS.

Conclusions:

• Single-use kits (SK) are $1,313 more cost-effective per case than reprocessed surgical sets (RS) in ambulatory surgical settings.
• SKs present a potentially more economical option for distal radius fracture surgery.
• Actual costs can vary significantly based on individual center pricing and negotiated contracts.