Nationwide Cost Variation for Thumb Replantation: A Population Study.

Abstract

Health care reforms aimed at bundling payments attempt to contain costs. Uncovering variation in spending provides one strategy for decreasing expenditure. This study aims to investigate interhospital cost variation for thumb replantation. A retrospective cross-sectional analysis of patients undergoing thumb replantation using data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project National Inpatient Sample database from 2001 to 2011 was performed. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression models were used to investigate associations between patient-level and hospital-level characteristics and cost. A total of 778 patients were included in the study, with a mean cost for thumb replantation of $20,965. Thumb replantations performed at high-volume hospitals were significantly more expensive than those performed at low-volume hospitals (median cost, $20,395 versus $13,463; p < 0.001), with longer lengths of stay (5 days versus 4 days), despite having similar surgical complication rates (p = 0.07). Thumb replantations performed in the West were significantly more expensive than those performed in the South (median cost, $22,579 in the West versus $14,823 in the South; p < 0.001), with longer lengths of stay (5 days versus 4 days; p = 0.005) and similar surgical complications (p = 0.239). In multivariable logistic regression, hospital volume (p < 0.001), hospital region (p < 0.001), and increased length of stay (p < 0.001) were predictive of higher cost. High-volume hospitals and hospitals in the West are more expensive, with longer lengths of stay, despite having similar complications. Expedited discharge may be one avenue for decreasing expenditure without compromising care.