Rehabilitation Charges Associated With Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction.
BACKGROUND
Pre- and postoperative rehabilitation are important to the management of patients with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, but little attention has been given to the costs. This study evaluated the pre- and postoperative rehabilitation charges in patients with ACL reconstruction in the United States.


OBJECTIVE
Patients receive preoperative rehabilitation less commonly than postoperative rehabilitation.


METHODS
Retrospective database study.


METHODS
Level 4.


METHODS
Using the PearlDiver database, we identified patients undergoing ACL reconstruction from 2007 through 2011 using Current Procedural Terminology codes. The associated rehabilitation charges billed to insurance providers for 90 days preoperatively and 6 months postoperatively were categorized as physical therapy or as durable medical equipment (DME). The charges were examined by year and geographic region and represented as per-patient average charges (PPACs).


RESULTS
A total of 92,179 patients were identified in the study period. The PPAC for rehabilitation was $241 during the 90-day preoperative period and $1876 for the 6-month postoperative period. Patients averaged 2 preoperative sessions for physical therapy, with 44% of patients receiving preoperative rehabilitation in contrast with an average of 17 postoperative sessions per patient in 93% of patients. Rehabilitation charges were greater postoperatively than preoperatively (P < 0.05). Preoperatively, 24% of patients received a DME, while 35% received a DME postoperatively. Preoperative rehabilitation PPACs were highest in the Northeast, followed by Midwest, South, and West (P < 0.05). There were no significant differences in postoperative rehabilitation PPACs for geographic region (P = 0.43).


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative rehabilitation charges were lower than postoperative charges. A patient undergoing ACL reconstruction typically received 9 times more sessions of postoperative physical therapy than preoperative.


CONCLUSIONS
This study found that preoperative supervised rehabilitation for patients with ACL reconstruction was infrequent across the United States.
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina joanne.zhang@dm.duke.edu.
Joanne Y
JY
Zhang
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
Jeremiah R
JR
Cohen
Rutgers School of Medicine, Newark, New Jersey.
Michael G
MG
Yeranosian
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
Elizabeth L
EL
Lord
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine at USC, Los Angeles, California.
Jeffrey C
JC
Wang
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
Frank A
FA
Petrigliano
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California.
David R
DR
McAllister
D016118:Anterior Cruciate Ligament / Q000601:surgery; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D004389:Durable Medical Equipment / Q000191:economics; D005251:Fees, Medical; D006801:Humans; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities / Q000191:economics*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000191:economics; D011300:Preoperative Care / Q000191:economics; D012189:Retrospective Studies
anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction; charges; durable medical equipment; physical therapy; rehabilitation