Cervical Laminoplasty Is Associated With Lower Health Care Costs as Compared With Cervical Fusion Procedures: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Comparative Studies.

STUDY DESIGN

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study is to examine the cost of CLP versus CF stratified by approach to guide decision-making.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Cervical laminoplasty (CLP) and cervical fusion (CF) are viable alternatives for surgical management of cervical spine myelopathy, with no clear consensus on clinical superiority. However, despite clinical equivalence in patient outcomes, there is limited data on the relative costs between CLP and CF.

METHODS

This study searched PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were articles that examined the cost between CLP and any type of CF (stratified by anterior, posterior, or combined approach). A random-effects continuous model for meta-analysis was performed using standardized mean difference (SMD).

RESULTS

Eleven articles were included. Patients (n = 21,033) had an average age of 56.0 ± 3.6 years and underwent either CLP (n = 4364), posterior CF (n = 3529), anterior CF (n = 13,084), or combined CF (n = 56). The mean reported cost among patients who underwent CLP (n=3742) was significantly lower compared with patients who underwent CF (n = 6329), irrespective of the approach for CF ( P = 0.028; SMD = -2.965). For subgroup analysis by surgical approach, the mean reported cost among patients treated with CLP was significantly lower as compared with patients treated with posterior CF ( P = 0.013; SMD = -1.861) and anterior CF ( P < 0.001; SMD = -0.344). Patients who underwent CLP had a significantly lower mean hardware cost than patients who underwent posterior CF ( P < 0.001; SMD = -3.275).

CONCLUSIONS

CLP appears to be associated with statistically significant and clinically relevant lower reported costs than CF, irrespective of the approach based on meta-analysis of low or moderate-quality retrospective studies. CLP may also have lower reported costs than both posterior CF and anterior CF.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

IV.