title: Cost savings analysis of intrawound vancomycin powder in posterior spinal surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent studies have shown that prophylactic use of intrawound vancomycin in posterior instrumented spine surgery substantially decreases the incidence of wound infections requiring repeat surgery. Significant cost savings are thought to be associated with the use of vancomycin in this setting.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To elucidate cost savings associated with the use of intrawound vancomycin in posterior spinal surgeries using a budget-impact model.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective cohort study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data from a cohort of 303 patients who underwent spinal surgery (instrumented and noninstrumented) over 2 years were analyzed; 96 of these patients received prophylactic intrawound vancomycin powder in addition to normal intravenous (IV) antibiotic prophylaxis, and 207 received just routine IV antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients requiring repeat surgical procedures for infection were identified, and the costs of these additional procedures were elucidated.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cost associated with the additional procedure to remediate infection in the absence of vancomycin prophylaxis.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively reviewed the cost of return procedures for treatment of surgical site infection (SSI). The total reimbursement received by the health care facility was used to model the costs associated with repeat surgery, and this cost was compared with the cost of a single local application of vancomycin costing about $12.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 96 patients in the treatment group, the return-to-surgery rate for SSI was 0. In the group without vancomycin, seven patients required a total of 14 procedures. The mean cost per episode of surgery, based on the reimbursement, the health care facility received was $40,992 (range, $14,459-$114,763). A total of $573,897 was spent on 3% of the 207-patient cohort that did not receive intrawound vancomycin, whereas a total of $1,152 ($12×96 patients) was spent on the cohort treated with vancomycin.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows a reduction in SSIs requiring a return-to-surgery-with large cost savings-with use of intrawound vancomycin powder. In our study population, the cost savings totaled more than half a million dollars.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mail Stop 11503G, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55101. Electronic address: oemohare@umn.edu.
authors.forename: Osa
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Emohare
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 2512 South 7th Street, Suite R200, Minneapolis, MN, 55454.
authors.forename: Charles G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Ledonio
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Saint Louis University, 3635 Vista at Grand Blvd. St. Louis, Missouri 63104.
authors.forename: Brian W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mail Stop 11503L, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN 55101.
authors.forename: Rick A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Minnesota, 2512 South 7th Street, Suite R200, Minneapolis, MN, 55454.
authors.forename: David W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Polly
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Mail Stop 11503G, Regions Hospital, 640 Jackson Street, Saint Paul, MN, 55101.
authors.forename: Matthew M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D017046:Cost Savings; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000191:economics* / Q000379:methods; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013131:Spine / Q000601:surgery*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014640:Vancomycin / Q000191:economics* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D014640:Vancomycin
keywords: Comparative effectiveness; Cost saving; Cost-benefit analysis; Economic; Infection; Local vancomycin powder; Posterior spinal fusion; Posterior spine surgery; Vancomycin