Evaluation of Costs Associated With Acute Achilles Tendon Repair

Abstract

Background: Increasing attention is being paid to the costs associated with various orthopaedic surgeries. Here, we studied the factors that influence costs associated with surgically treated acute Achilles tendon tears. Methods: We retrospectively identified patients with surgically repaired acute Achilles tendon tears, excluding insertional ruptures or chronic tendon issues. Using the Value Driven Outcome (VDO) tool from our institution, we assessed total direct costs as well as facility costs. Briefly, the VDO tool includes an item-level database that can capture detailed cost data—costs are then reported as relative mean data. Cost variables were adjusted to 2022 US dollars, and total direct cost was compared with patient characteristics using gamma regressions to report cost ratios with 95% CIs. Results: Our cohort consisted of 224 patients with Achilles tendon tears surgically repaired by one of 4 fellowship-trained orthopaedic foot and ankle surgeons. There were no differences in demographics, total direct costs, or facility costs based on surgical positioning (prone n = 156, supine n = 68). Open repairs (n = 215), compared with percutaneous techniques (n = 9) that used commercially available instrumentation, had 37% less total direct costs ( P < .001, 95% CI 0.55-0.72). Compared with surgery at a main academic hospital (n = 15), procedures at an ambulatory care center (n = 207) had 19% lower total direct costs ( P = .040, 95% CI 0.66-0.99) and 41% lower facility costs ( P < .001, 95% CI 0.5-0.7). Conclusion: Improving cost-effective orthopaedic care remains an increasingly important goal. Patient positioning for Achilles tendon repair does not appear to have meaningful impacts on cost. When clinically appropriate, considering surgery location at an ambulatory center appears to reduce surgical costs. Level of Evidence: Level III, retrospective comparative study.