This paper is only available as a PDF. To read, Please Download here.
Abstract
In an effort to determine the cost effectiveness of rotator cuff repair surgery in
workers' compensation patients, a financial analysis of 50 consecutive patients with
a “successful” result was performed. Treatment cots were analyzed from the date of
initial injury through all evaluations, diagnostic studies, surgical reconstruction,
physical therapy and work hardening. Additionally, all workers' compensation payments
and the cost of settlement was analyzed. The average cost of medical care was $50,302.25
per patient. The average time to return to unrestricted duty from the date of injury
was 11 months. However, patients referred to a specialist immediately following the
diagnosis of a rotator cuff tear had total costs that averaged $25,870.64 and returned
to work an average of 7 months postoperatively. Patients managed via a “gatekeeper”
system averaged 100,280.10 in total costs and the average return to work was 18 months.
These differences in cost and return to work were both statistically significant.
P < .05. In conclusion, immediate referral of rotator cuff tears for specialized care
results in decreased cost and earlier return to work.
Keywords
To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
Purchase one-time access:
Academic & Personal: 24 hour online accessCorporate R&D Professionals: 24 hour online accessOne-time access price info
- For academic or personal research use, select 'Academic and Personal'
- For corporate R&D use, select 'Corporate R&D Professionals'
Subscribe:
Subscribe to ArthroscopyAlready a print subscriber? Claim online access
Already an online subscriber? Sign in
Register: Create an account
Institutional Access: Sign in to ScienceDirect
References
- A physician's primer on workers' compensation.1992 (Rosemont, IL)
- Claims cost of back pain.Best's Review, New York1981
- Repair of the rotator cuff.J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1986; 68: 1136-1144
- Failed anterior acromioplasty.in: A review of 51 cases. ed 8. Clin Orthop. 243. 1989: 106-111
- Surgery for full-thickness rotator cuff tears.J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1985; 67: 1349-1355
Article Info
Identification
Copyright
© 1995 Published by Elsevier Inc.
