[The influence of rheumatoid and degenerative disease on hospital resources in the operative treatment of cervical spine instability].
The aim of this study was to compare perioperative diagnostic and therapeutic measures in the treatment of cervical spine instability in patients with rheumatoid arthritis or degenerative disease. Twenty patients (ten in each group) were evaluated and compared with regard to age, sex, surgery time, total operating room time, intensive care time, extent of physical therapy, nursing requirements, costs of medication and radiography. Rheumatoid arthritis patients required more resources with regard to surgery, nursing and rehabilitation than the patients with degenerative disease. Significant differences existed with regard to patient age (P=0.0005), surgery time (P=0.0021), total operating room time (P=0.0001), duration of intensive care (P=0.0005), nursing requirements (P=0.0000), costs of medication (P=0.0000), costs of radiography (P=0.0015) and the duration of hospitalisation (P=0.0115). The data suggest that it is necessary to distinguish patients with rheumatoid or degenerative cervical spine instability from an economic point of view, as the treatment of the rheumatoid cervical spine requires more resources.
Rittmeister
M
M
Abteilung für Rheumaorthopädie, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität Frankfurt am Main. merittmeister@aol.com
Patzel
U
U
Kerschbaumer
F
F
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery*; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003422:Critical Care / Q000191:economics; D019299:Decompression, Surgical / Q000191:economics; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007593:Joint Instability / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D010348:Patient Care Team / Q000191:economics; D015895:Relative Value Scales; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery; D013123:Spinal Fusion / Q000191:economics; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery