Antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary nail is cost-effective for the initial treatment of GAⅢ open tibia fractures

Michael J. Steflik, B. Gage Griswold, Dhara V. Patel, James A. Blair, Jana M. Davis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of antibiotic cement-coated intramedullary nails (IMN) in the initial management of Gustilo-Anderson type Ⅲ (GAIII) open tibia fractures. Methods: A break-even equation was used to analyze the costs associated with antibiotic cement-coated IMN and postoperative infection following GAⅢ open tibia fractures. This equation produced a new infection rate, which defines what percentage the antibiotic coated IMN needs to decrease the initial infection rate for its prophylactic use to be cost-effective. The postoperative infection rate used for calculations was 30%, a value established in current literature for these fracture types (6–33%). The institutional costs associated with a single operative debridement and resultant inpatient stay and treatment were determined. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to demonstrate how various total costs of infection and different infection rates affected the break-even rate, the absolute risk reduction (ARR), and the number needed to treat (NNT). Results: Financial review yielded an average institutional cost of treating a postoperative infection to be $13,282.85. This number was inclusive of all procedures during an inpatient stay. The added cost of the antibiotic coated implant to the hospital is $743.42. Utilizing the break-even formula with these costs and a 30% initial infection rate, antibiotic coated IMN was economically viable if it decreased infection rate by 0.056% (NNT = 1,785.714). Conclusion: This break-even analysis model suggests the initial use of an antibiotic coated IMN in the setting of GAⅢ open tibia fractures is cost-effective.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)3471-3474
Number of pages4
JournalInjury
Volume53
Issue number10
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 2022

Keywords

  • Antibiotic coated intramedullary nail
  • Cost analysis
  • Economic analysis
  • Intramedullary nail
  • Open fracture
  • Tibia fracture

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine
  • Orthopedics and Sports Medicine

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