Health economics: a cost analysis of treatment of persistent fracture non-unions using bone morphogenetic protein-7.

OBJECTIVE

To compare the cost implications of treatment of persistent fracture non-unions before and after application of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-7 (BMP-7).

METHOD

Of 25 fracture non-unions, 9 were treated using BMP-7 alone and 16 using BMP-7 and bone grafting. These patients were prospectively followed up, and the costs incurred were analysed.

RESULTS

The mean number of procedures per fracture performed before application of BMP-7 was 4.16, versus 1.2 thereafter. Mean hospital stay and cost of treatment per fracture before receiving BMP-7 were 26.84 days and pound 13,844.68, versus 7.8 days and pound 7338.4 thereafter. The overall cost of treatment of persistent fracture non-unions with BMP-7 was 47.0% less than that of the numerous previous unsuccessful treatments (p=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Treating fracture non-unions is costly, but this could be reduced by early BMP-7 administration when a complex or persistent fracture non-union is present or anticipated.