Cost savings of implementing the SickKids Paediatric Orthopaedic Pathway for proximal humerus fractures in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND

The SickKids Paediatric Orthopaedic Pathway (SKPOP) for proximal humerus fractures may safely reduce the number of radiographs and follow-up assessments for children with these injuries. The study objective was to examine potential cost-savings of the SKPOP from the perspective of the Ministry of Health and Long-term Care (MOHLTC).

METHODS

Two sets of resource profiles, based on direct health care costs were created for a cohort of patients treated at our institution: the first based on actual follow-up assessment values, and the other based on follow-up assessments according to the SKPOP. Differences between the two profiles represent potential cost-savings. A decision-analysis and associated probabilistic sensitivity analysis (PSA) were performed.

RESULTS

In a cohort of 239 patients treated between 2009 and 2014, 92.9% (222) would have met SKPOP eligibility. Management according to this pathway would have reduced orthopaedic assessments and shoulder radiograph series by 83.6% (470/562) and 70.8% (367/589), respectively. For the cohort examined, a potential cost-savings of $30,040.56 ($135.32/patient) was observed. A PSA, accounting for variable SKPOP adherence and health care utilization, yielded cost-savings in 96.5% of the iterations run through the decision-analysis model and an average cost-savings of $57.82/patient. Based on these results and the annual provincial incidence rate of eligible patients (n=575), the MOHLTC could potentially save $33,249.45 annually with province-wide implementation.

CONCLUSIONS

Implementation of the SKPOP for a cohort of patients managed at our institution could have resulted in cost-savings due to substantial reductions in health care utilization. Cost-savings are likely to occur with provincial implementation of the SKPOP for proximal humerus fractures.