The Cost-Effectiveness of Continuous Pressure Measurement in the Diagnosis of Acute Compartment Syndrome.

BACKGROUND

The diagnosis of acute compartment syndrome (ACS) using a single-point pressure measurement device has demonstrated low specificity. Recently, sensors that allow for continuous monitoring of compartment pressure have been introduced, with improved specificity and sensitivity compared with single-point measurement. In this article, we present an economic model used to evaluate the cost-benefits of continuous pressure measurement in patients at risk for ACS.

METHODS

The model used a decision-tree structure to estimate the treatment costs of ACS at 60 days and 1 year after admission and over the patient's lifetime. It assumed systematic use of the diagnostic devices for all tibial shaft and tibial plateau fractures and estimated the cost-effectiveness of continuous pressure measurement compared with noncontinuous pressure measurement by comparing costs, quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), and length of stay (LOS).

RESULTS

The improved specificity of continuous pressure measurement reduced unnecessary fasciotomies by 94%. The inflation-adjusted cost of an uncomplicated tibial fracture averaged $57,144; the performance of an unnecessary fasciotomy increased that cost by $27,790. The gain in QALYs was 0.004 per patient, with a net health benefit of 0.06 QALYs. Over a 60-day time horizon, the model showed an estimated decrease in LOS of 2.73 days, on average, per patient. The net monetary benefit was $2,789 (range, -$1,246 to $6,151) in favor of the continuous measurement, increasing to $4,085 (range, -$745 to $8,103) over the lifetime of the patient following the most conservative scenario of equal ACS grade distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

Most of the ACS economic burden lies in the lack of specificity of the current diagnostic methods. The low incidence of ACS and the high risk associated with prophylactic treatment indicate that improvement in health and economic outcomes should focus on reducing the rate of unnecessary fasciotomies.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Economic and Decision Analysis Level IV . See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.