Management of End-Stage Ankle Arthritis: Cost-Utility Analysis Using Direct and Indirect Costs

Conclusions: Compared with nonoperative treatment for the management of end-stage ankle arthritis, total ankle replacement is preferred over ankle fusion; total ankle replacement is cost-saving when indirect costs are considered and demonstrates increasing cost-effectiveness in younger patients. As indications for and utilization of total ankle replacement increase, continued research is needed to define appropriate subgroups of patients who would likely derive the greatest clinical benefit from that procedure. Level of Evidence: Economic and decision analysis Level II. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

http://jbjs.org/cgi/content/short/97/14/1159?rss=1

Source: The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery - July 15, 2015 Category: Orthopaedics Authors: Nwachukwu, B. U., McLawhorn, A. S., Simon, M. S., Hamid, K. S., Demetracopoulos, C. A., Deland, J. T., Ellis, S. J. Tags: Foot & Ankle Scientific Articles Source Type: research