Study highlights variations in spinal component costs

More transparency and doctor-hospital cooperation in implant component purchases could reduce overall spinal implant costs

2013-03-22

(Press-News.org) CHICAGO – In a study, presented today at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), researchers obtained and compared the hospital purchasing records from 45 academic medical centers on the unit costs and volume of spinal products – pedicle screws (PS), anterior cervical plates (ACP) and posterior interbody cages – purchased from a total of seven vendors.

Among the results: PS had a mean cost of $878, with a range of $400 to $1,843 per patient; ACP had a mean cost of $1,068, with a range of $540 to $2,388; and, cages, $2,975, with a range of $938 to $7,200

For every additional implant component purchased, the unit price was reduced by $.29, $4.33 and $6.86 for PS, ACP and cages, respectively.

A significant relationship exists between a lower unit cost of implants and the purchase of a larger number of components. The authors suggest that greater transparency, as well as a more coordinated implant selection and purchase process, that includes the surgeon, hospital and manufacturer, could reduce the wide variation in component cost, and contribute to overall lower health care expenditures. ### Learn more: AAOS.org Follow us on Facebook.com/AAOS1 and Twitter.com/AAOS1. A Nation in Motion More than one in four Americans have bone or joint health problems, making them the greatest cause of lost work days in the U.S. When orthopaedic surgeons restore mobility and reduce pain, they help people get back to work and to independent, productive lives. Orthopaedic surgeons provide a great value, in both human and economic terms; and access to high-quality orthopaedic care keeps this "Nation in Motion." To learn more, to read hundreds of patient stories or to submit your own story, visit ANationinMotion.org.

For more information on bone and joint health, visit Orthoinfo.org. END

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Additional research must be done to ensure safety of pit latrines, new study says

2013-03-22

WASHINGTON, D.C.--Pit latrines are one of the most common human excreta disposal systems globally, and their use is on the rise as countries aim to meet the sanitation-related target of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Strong evidence supports the use of these basic toilets as a way to improve human health. However, improperly designed pit latrines can actually allow disease-causing microbes or other contaminants to leach into the groundwater. The contaminated water puts people, and especially children, at risk of developing potentially life-threatening diarrheal ...

Study finds long nerve grafts restore function in patients with brachial plexus injury

2013-03-22

A study by researchers at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) challenges a widely held belief that long nerve grafts do poorly in adults with an axillary nerve injury. Investigators found that the outcomes of long nerve grafts were comparable to those of modern nerve transfers. Both procedures restored function. The axillary nerve supplies the deltoid muscle of the shoulder and an important rotator cuff muscle. It's part of the brachial plexus, a network of nerves that runs down from the neck and across the shoulder. "Conventional wisdom is that grafts longer than seven ...

Massachusetts judges get tough on deadbeat parents

2013-03-22

Massachusetts judges get tough on deadbeat parents Article provided by Grindle Robinson Goodhue & Frolin LLP Visit us at http://www.grindlerobinson.com Getting a child support award is certainly not the end for single parents who need assistance from former spouses to care for their children. Long after a child support award is obtained in court, single parents may find themselves fighting to actually enforce the award, while those who are unable to pay -- as well as those deadbeat parents that refuse to pay -- fail to make good on the award. The result impacts ...

FDA proposes codes for medical devices to more efficiently catch defects

2013-03-22

FDA proposes codes for medical devices to more efficiently catch defects Article provided by The Cifarelli Law Firm, LLP Visit us at http://www.cifarellilaw.com/ The U.S. Food and Drug Administration, or FDA, is responsible for regulating manufactures of medical devices sold in the United States. The FDA has a broad list of requirements that medical devices must meet prior to being sold within the U.S., including: -Registration with the FDA -Providing the FDA with a list of all devices sold within the U.S. -In some cases, authorization from the FDA In an ...

How to make co-parenting work after divorce

2013-03-22

How to make co-parenting work after divorce Article provided by Jonathan D. Katz, Attorney at Law Visit us at http://www.jonathankatzlaw.com/ Although emotions may cloud people's judgment when they go through a divorce, they must put all of that aside when making decisions for their children. And because it is imperative for children to spend time with both parents -- which can make them feel more secure as they deal with the transition of seeing their mother and father apart -- ex-spouses should always think of the best interests of their children when co-parenting, ...

Michigan drunk driving laws: All about ignition interlocks

2013-03-22

Michigan drunk driving laws: All about ignition interlocks Article provided by Willis Law Visit us at http://www.yourcriminaldefenselawfirm.com In Michigan, there are hefty consequences for those convicted of drunk driving. In addition to fees and jail time, offenders are often presented with driving limitations, which are intended to help serve as deterrent for future criminal actions. An ignition interlock device (IID) is an alcohol breath-evaluating instrument, which is installed in a car and prevents it from starting if a driver's blood-alcohol concentration ...

U.S. immigration policy leaves many immigrants at risk for deportation

2013-03-22

U.S. immigration policy leaves many immigrants at risk for deportation Article provided by Thomas E. Moseley Visit us at http://www.criminalimmigrationdefense.com The U.S. deportation policy is of interest to many immigrants concerned about the threat of deportation. There are several ways in which legal and undocumented immigrants may face deportation from the United States. If a non-citizen is convicted of certain charges, he or she is automatically deported from the United States. This includes proven charges of misdemeanors and felonies. It does not matter ...

Pennsylvania State Police replace breathalyzers with blood tests

2013-03-22

Pennsylvania State Police replace breathalyzers with blood tests Article provided by Shaffer & Engle Law Offices, LLC Visit us at http://www.pennfamilylawyers.com Pennsylvania residents may recall hearing about a recent ruling by a Dauphin County judge, where a DUI charge was thrown out because of concerns about the reliability and accuracy of breathalyzers during DUI stops. As a result of the ruling, the Pennsylvania State Police are temporarily substituting blood tests for breathalyzers when stopping drivers on suspicion of a DUI. Blood tests could mean ...

New York mortgage foreclosures: Are we out of the woods yet?

2013-03-22

New York mortgage foreclosures: Are we out of the woods yet? Article provided by The Law Offices of Allison B. Crain & Associates Visit us at http://www.crainlaw.com The United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development is optimistic about the economy and attributes the improvement to a rebound with the nation's housing market. He cites a deal made with five of the largest mortgage companies in the nation as the reason for the economic recovery. About a year ago, the federal government, 49 state attorney generals and the mortgage companies reached ...

Tips to hasten credit repair after filing for bankruptcy relief

2013-03-22

Tips to hasten credit repair after filing for bankruptcy relief Article provided by Costello & Costello, P.C. Visit us at http://www.costellolaw.com According to the Federal Judiciary, over one million Americans filed for bankruptcy relief in 2012 alone. Bankruptcy petitions were designed by Congress to offer petitioners who qualify for protection with the ability to discharge debts and begin on a fresh financially. Those who seek protections from creditors through bankruptcy relief can also rest assured knowing their credit scores will recover. Although ...

NFCR congratulates Dr. Robert C. Bast, Jr. on receiving the AACR-Daniel D. Von Hoff Award for Outstanding Contributions to Education and Training in Cancer Research

Study highlights variations in spinal component costs

ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES: