Cost and Health Care Utilization in Spinal Fusion Surgery

This research article evaluates the effectiveness of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) compared to non-LB analgesia in spinal fusion surgery, focusing on cost and healthcare resource utilization (HCRU) from the day of surgery through a 30-day follow-up. The study utilized a retrospective cohort design, analyzing deidentified patient data from a US closed claims database. A total of 478 patients in the LB cohort and 1434 in the non-LB cohort were included, with baseline demographics being well balanced after propensity score matching. The findings indicate that the use of LB is associated with significantly lower total costs in the inpatient commercial setting, primarily due to a reduced length of hospital stay. The mean total costs per patient were significantly lower in the LB group compared to the non-LB group, driven by lower inpatient and outpatient costs. The study suggests that incorporating LB into postoperative pain management may offer clinical and economic advantages in spinal fusion procedures.