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Hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation with percutaneous cannulated screws as treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly: cost-utility analysis performed alongside a randomized, controlled trial

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Abstract

Summary

We estimated the cost-effectiveness of hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation for elderly patients with displaced femoral neck fractures. Over 2 years, patients treated with hemiarthroplasty gained more quality-adjusted life years than patients treated with internal fixation. In addition, costs for hemiarthroplasty were lower. Hemiarthroplasty was thus cost effective.

Introduction

Estimating the cost utility of hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation in the treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly.

Methods

A cost-utility analysis (CUA) was conducted alongside a clinical randomized controlled trial at a university hospital in Norway; 166 patients, 124 (75%) women with a mean age of 82 years were randomized to either internal fixation (n = 86) or hemiarthroplasty (n = 80). Patients were followed up at 4, 12, and 24 months. Health-related quality of life was assessed with the EQ-5D, and in combination with time used to calculate patients’ quality-adjusted life years (QALYs). Resource use was identified, quantified, and valued for direct and indirect hospital costs and for societal costs. Results were expressed in incremental cost-effectiveness ratios.

Results

Over the 2-year period, patients treated with hemiarthroplasty gained 0.15–0.20 more QALYs than patients treated with internal fixation. For the hemiarthroplasty group, the direct hospital costs, total hospital costs, and total costs were non-significantly less costly compared with the internal fixation group, with an incremental cost of €2,731 (p = 0.81), €2,474 (p = 0.80), and €14,160 (p = 0.07), respectively. Thus, hemiarthroplasty was the dominant treatment. Sensitivity analyses by bootstrapping supported these findings.

Conclusion

Hemiarthroplasty was a cost-effective treatment. Trial registration, NCT00464230.

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Abbreviations

CUA:

Cost-utility analysis

HRQoL:

Health-related quality of life

ICER:

Incremental cost-effectiveness ratio

QALY:

Quality-adjusted life year

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Acknowledgments

Kenneth Nilsen, Wender Figved, Silje Aspaas, Eivind Kaare Osnes, Bjørn Robstad, Wendy Hornum, and Kirsti Hildur Nielsen who participated considerably in the collection of data.

Conflicts of interest

All authors have completed the Unified Competing Interest form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare that (1) none of the authors have support from any company for the submitted work; (2) FF and LN have received consulting and lecturing fees from OrtoMedic who markets the orthopedic implants used in this trial and that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous 3 years; (3) their spouses, partners, or children have no financial relationships that may be relevant to the submitted work; and (4) GW, EA, LN, FF, and JEM have no non-financial interests that may be relevant to the submitted work.

Funding

Funding for this work was from the Norwegian Foundation for Health and Rehabilitation through the Norwegian Osteoporosis Society, South-Eastern Norway Regional Health Authority, the Norwegian Research Council, Nycomed, Smith and Nephew, and OrtoMedic. The researchers have worked independently and have not been influenced by the funders.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Health Management and Health Economics, University of Oslo, 1089, Blindern, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    G. M. Waaler Bjørnelv & E. Aas

  2. HEHØ—Health Economic Evaluations in the South-Eastern Regional Health Authority in Norway, University of Oslo, 0317, Oslo, Norway

    G. M. Waaler Bjørnelv

  3. Orthopaedic Department, Oslo University Hospital, Kirkeveien 166, 0407, Oslo, Norway

    F. Frihagen, J. E. Madsen & L. Nordsletten

  4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316, Oslo, Norway

    J. E. Madsen & L. Nordsletten

Authors
  1. G. M. Waaler Bjørnelv
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  2. F. Frihagen
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  3. J. E. Madsen
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  4. L. Nordsletten
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  5. E. Aas
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Correspondence to G. M. Waaler Bjørnelv.

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Waaler Bjørnelv, G.M., Frihagen, F., Madsen, J.E. et al. Hemiarthroplasty compared to internal fixation with percutaneous cannulated screws as treatment of displaced femoral neck fractures in the elderly: cost-utility analysis performed alongside a randomized, controlled trial. Osteoporos Int 23, 1711–1719 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1772-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00198-011-1772-1

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