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

Publication date: Available online 20 December 2018Source: Journal of OrthopaedicsAuthor(s): Nipun Sodhi, Sarah E. Dalton, Peter A. Gold, Luke Garbarino, Hiba K. Anis, Jared M. Newman, Bilal Mahmood, Anton Khlopas, Assem A. Sultan, Nicolas S. Piuzzi, Michael A. MontAbstractIntroductionThe 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.

Source: Journal of Orthopaedics - December 20, 2018 Category: Orthopaedics Source Type: research