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Cost Savings Associated with Vacuum-Assisted Closure in Trauma Patients Undergoing Posterior Spinal Fusion
Yusuf Mehkri1, Ramy Sharaf1, Abtahi Tishad1
1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Florida College of Medicine, Jacksonville, Florida, USA.
Objective:
To investigate the implications of vacuum-assisted closure (VAC) versus standard wound dressings on postoperative posterior spinal fusion (PSF) wounds with respect to potential cost savings associated with reduced incidence of surgical site infections.
Methods:
This was a retrospective review of trauma patients who underwent open PSF under the care of a single surgeon at a Level I trauma center. Patients were postoperatively monitored for 90 days. Statistical analysis was performed with χ2 testing with the calculation of number needed to treat values.
Results:
Inclusion criteria were met by 208 patients who underwent open PSF. The χ2 test revealed a significant increase in incidence of surgical site infections (20% vs. 8%; P = 0.021) in the non-VAC group (n = 112) compared with the VAC group (n = 96). Cost-benefit analysis revealed that use of VAC in patients undergoing open PSF could enable a mean cost savings of $163,492 per 100 patients.
Conclusions:
Use of VAC in patients undergoing open PSF was associated with a 2-fold decrease in incidence of surgical site infections and an infection-related cost savings of $163,492 per 100 patients. Further investigation is needed to ascertain additional benefits of VAC usage in patients undergoing open PSF.
