Healthcare Costs and Utilization in Total Knee Arthroplasty

This study is a retrospective cohort analysis evaluating the effectiveness of liposomal bupivacaine (LB) compared to ropivacaine in total knee arthroplasty (TKA) on healthcare resource utilization (HCRU). The analysis utilized deidentified patient data from a nationwide US closed claims database, focusing on costs and resource utilization from the day of surgery through a 30-day follow-up period. The results indicate that LB was associated with significantly lower total costs compared to ropivacaine across both commercial and Medicare Advantage insurance cohorts. Specifically, lower costs were attributed to reduced home healthcare, outpatient, and pharmacy expenses. The study also assessed the differences in patient demographics, including age, sex, race, and comorbidities, which were well balanced between the LB and ropivacaine groups. The findings suggest that LB may offer a cost-effective alternative for postoperative pain management in TKA procedures.