A comparison of relative value units in revision hip versus revision knee arthroplasty.

Sodhi, Nipun; Dalton, Sarah E; Gold, Peter A; Garbarino, Luke J; Anis, Hiba K; Newman, Jared M; Mahmood, Bilal; Khlopas, Anton et al. · J Orthop · 2019

retrospective_cohort · Level III

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare the: 1) RVUs; 2) lengths-of-surgery; 3) RVU per minute between revision hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasties; and 4) perform an annualized surgeon cost analysis. Using the ACS-NSQIP from 2008 to 2015, 8081 revision TKAs, 7233 THAs were compared. Revision THA had greater mean RVUs (30.27 vs. 27.10 RVUs, p < 0.001), operative times (152 vs. 149 min, p < 0.001), and RVU/minute (0.3 vs. 0.2 RVUs per minute, p < 0.001). Cost analysis yielded and annual $89,922.73 difference. Revision THA, therefore, is reimbursed at a significantly higher "hourly rate," when compared to revision TKA.

Anatomy