Laminoplasty and laminectomy and fusion are both options to address cervical myelopathy, but their cost-effectiveness varies, according to a study in the Nov. 15 issue of Spine.
Researchers did a retrospective analysis of 277 cervical laminoplasties and 229 cervical laminectomies with fusion. They analyzed facility costs, including personnel and supply. Other analyses including and excluding implant costs were also performed.
The study found patients who underwent cervical laminoplasty had lower total supply costs and lower total personnel costs. Those patients also had lower total facility costs including and excluding implant costs.
Cervical laminectomy with fusion patients had increased total facility costs including and excluding implant costs.
The study concluded, "Using time-driven activity-based costing, we found that total facility costs were lower in patients treated with laminoplasty. These findings suggest that laminoplasty may offer a less costly and more efficient surgical option for treating cervical myelopathy."