Correlation between Relative Value Units and Operative Time for Flap-Based Reconstruction Procedures

Procedures performed by plastic surgeons tend to generate lower work relative value units (RVUs) compared to other surgical specialties despite their major contributions to hospital revenue. The authors aimed to compare work RVUs allocated to all free flap and pedicled flap reconstruction procedures based on their associated median operative times and discuss implications of these compensation disparities.

A retrospective analysis of deidentified patient data from the American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program was performed, and relevant CPT codes for flap-based reconstruction were identified from 2011 to 2018. RVU data were assessed using the 2020 National Physician Fee Schedule Relative Value File. The work RVU per unit time was calculated using the median operative time for each procedure.

A total of 3991 procedures were included in analysis. With increased operative time and surgical complexity, work RVU per minute trended downward. Free-fascial flaps with microvascular anastomosis generated the highest work RVUs per minute among all free flaps (0.114 work RVU/minute). Free-muscle/myocutaneous flap reconstruction generated the least work RVUs per minute (0.0877 work RVU/minute) among all flap reconstruction procedures.

Longer operative procedures for flap-based reconstruction were designated with higher work RVU. Surgeons were reimbursed less per operative unit time for these surgical procedures, however. Specifically, free flaps resulted in reduced compensation in work RVUs per minute compared to pedicled flaps, except in breast reconstruction. More challenging operations have surprisingly resulted in lower compensation, demonstrating the inequalities in reimbursement within and between surgical specialties. Plastic surgeons should be aware of these discrepancies to appropriately advocate for themselves.