Cost-effectiveness of dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane allografts in lower extremity diabetic ulcer treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness and budget impact of using standard care (no advanced treatment, NAT) compared with an advanced treatment (AT), dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (DHACM), when following parameters for use (FPFU) in treating lower extremity diabetic ulcers (LEDUs). METHOD: We analysed a retrospective cohort of Medicare patients (2015-2019) to generate four propensity-matched cohorts of LEDU episodes. Outcomes for DHACM and NAT, such as amputations, and healthcare utilisation were tracked from claims codes, analysed and used to build a hybrid economic model, combining a one-year decision tree and a four-year Markov model. The budget impact was evaluated in the difference in per member per month spending following completion of the decision tree. Likewise, the cost-effectiveness was analysed before and after the Markov model at a willingness to pay (WTP) threshold of $100,000 per quality adjusted life year (QALY). The analysis was conducted from the healthcare sector perspective. RESULTS: There were 10,900,127 patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, of whom 1,213,614 had an LEDU. Propensity-matched Group 1 was generated from the 19,910 episodes that received AT. Only 9.2% of episodes were FPFU and DHACM was identified as the most widely used AT product among Medicare episodes. Propensity-matched Group 4 was limited by the 590 episodes that used DHACM FPFU. Episodes treated with DHACM FPFU had statistically fewer amputations and healthcare utilisation. In year one, DHACM FPFU provided an additional 0.013 QALYs, while saving $3,670 per patient. At a WTP of $100,000 per QALY, the five-year net monetary benefit was $5003. CONCLUSION: The findings of this study showed that DHACM FPFU reduced costs and improved clinical benefits compared with NAT for LEDU Medicare patients. DHACM FPFU provided better clinical outcomes than NAT by reducing major amputations, ED visits, inpatient admissions and readmissions. These clinical gains were achieved at a lower cost, in years 1-5, and were likely to be cost-effective at any WTP threshold. Adoption of best practices identified in this retrospective analysis is expected to generate clinically significant decreases in amputations and hospital utilisation while saving money.

Observed impact of skin substitutes in lower extremity diabetic ulcers: lessons from the Medicare Database (2015-2018).

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate large propensity-matched cohorts to assess outcomes in patients receiving advanced treatment (AT) with skin substitutes for lower extremity diabetic ulcers (LEDUs) versus no AT (NAT) for the management of LEDUs. METHOD: The Medicare Limited Dataset (1 October 2015 through 2 October 2018) were used to retrospectively analyse people receiving care for a LEDU treated with AT or NAT (propensity-matched Group 1). Analysis included major and minor amputations, emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions. In addition, AT following parameters for use (FPFU) was compared with AT not FPFU (propensity-matched Group 2). A paired t-test was used for comparisons of the two groups. For comparisons of three groups, the Kruskal-Wallis test was used. A Bonferroni correction was performed when multiple comparisons were calculated. RESULTS: There were 9,738,760 patients with a diagnosis of diabetes, of whom 909,813 had a LEDU. In propensity-matched Group 1 (12,676 episodes per cohort), AT patients had statistically fewer minor amputations (p=0.0367), major amputations (p<0.0001), ED visits (p<0.0001), and readmissions (p<0.0001) compared with NAT patients. In propensity-matched Group 2 (1131 episodes per cohort), AT FPFU patients had fewer minor amputations (p=0.002) than those in the AT not FPFU group. CONCLUSION: AT for the management of LEDUs was associated with significant reductions in major and minor amputation, ED use, and hospital readmission compared with LEDUs managed with NAT. Clinics should implement AT in accordance with the highlighted parameters for use to improve outcomes and reduce costs.

The Biomechanics of Diabetes Mellitus and Limb Preservation.

Biomechanical changes to the lower extremity in patients with diabetes mellitus are typically greatest with peripheral neuropathy, although peripheral arterial disease also impacts limb function. Changes to anatomic structures can impact daily function. These static changes, coupled with kinetic and kinematic changes of gait, lead to increased vertical and shear ground reactive forces, resulting in ulcerations. Unsteadiness secondary to diminished postural stability and increased sway increase fall risk. These clinical challenges and exacerbation of foot position and dynamic changes associated with limb salvage procedures, amputations, and prostheses are necessary and can impact daily function, independence, quality of life, and mortality.

Excess Cost and Healthcare Resources Associated With Delayed Diagnosis of Charcot Foot.

The purpose of the present study was to demonstrate the effect of a delayed diagnosis of Charcot foot on acute care cost and usage. We used International Classification of Disease, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification codes, and the California Office for Statewide Health Planning and Development 2009 to 2012 public patient discharge files to identify patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and Charcot foot. The costs and length of stay were compared for those with a diagnosis of Charcot foot on admission compared with those who received a delayed diagnosis of Charcot foot before discharge. Patient demographic data, diagnoses often mistaken for Charcot foot, and procedures often performed for Charcot foot were assessed to determine the potential effect on costs and length of stay in Charcot foot subjects. A delayed Charcot foot diagnosis was associated with 10.8% greater inpatient costs and 12.1% longer length of stay. These patients required greater resource usage owing to the significantly greater number of procedures performed. A significantly greater number of patients underwent lower extremity amputation when the diagnosis was delayed, resulting in a 30.4% increase in costs and 31.6% longer length of stay. A greater rate of diabetic foot ulcers, foot infections, and osteomyelitis was also observed; however, the cost was only affected by osteomyelitis, and the length of stay was not significantly affected. A delayed diagnosis of Charcot foot at admission resulted in significantly increased acute care costs and longer lengths of stay.

Forecasting the Value of Podiatric Medical Care in Newly Insured Diabetic Patients During Implementation of the Affordable Care Act in California.

BACKGROUND: Because value-based care is critical to the Affordable Care Act success, we forecasted inpatient costs and the potential impact of podiatric medical care on savings in the diabetic population through improved care quality and decreased resource use during implementation of the health reform initiatives in California. METHODS: We forecasted enrollment of diabetic adults into Medicaid and subsidized health benefit exchange programs using the California Simulation of Insurance Markets (CalSIM) base model. Amputations and admissions per 1,000 diabetic patients and inpatient costs were based on the California Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development 2009-2011 inpatient discharge files. We evaluated cost in three categories: uncomplicated admissions, amputations during admissions, and discharges to a skilled nursing facility. Total costs and projected savings were calculated by applying the metrics and cost to the projected enrollment. RESULTS: Diabetic patients accounted for 6.6% of those newly eligible for Medicaid or health benefit exchange subsidies, with a 60.8% take-up rate. We project costs to be $24.2 million in the diabetic take-up population from 2014 to 2019. Inpatient costs were 94.3% higher when amputations occurred during the admission and 46.7% higher when discharged to a skilled nursing facility. Meanwhile, 61.0% of costs were attributed to uncomplicated admissions. Podiatric medical services saved 4.1% with a 10% reduction in admissions and amputations and an additional 1% for every 10% improvement in access to podiatric medical care. CONCLUSIONS: When implementing the Affordable Care Act, inclusion of podiatric medical services on multidisciplinary teams and in chronic-care models featuring prevention helps shift care to ambulatory settings to realize the greatest cost savings.

The impact of comorbidities on inpatient Charcot neuroarthropathy cost and utilization.

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to portray the impact of comorbidities on inpatient cost and utilization in Charcot neuroarthropathy (CN) patients. METHODS: Two cohorts, CN and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), were identified by ICD-9 codes in the California Office for Statewide Health Planning and Development 2009-2012 public patient discharge files. DPN and CN costs and length of stay (LOS) were compared adjusting for the number of chronic conditions. The impact of the Elixhauser comorbidity measures and other comorbidities on costs and LOS in CN subjects was evaluated. RESULTS: CN was associated with 17.2% higher costs and 1.4 days longer LOS compared to DPN alone. Adjusting for 0.71 additional chronic conditions in CN patients accounted for 79.8% of variance and estimated a 13.9% cost difference between cohorts. Subjects averaged 4.5 Elixhauser comorbidities with higher scores corresponding to increased cost, LOS, and inpatient mortality. Other diabetic foot risk factors demonstrated that foot ulcers, foot infections, and osteomyelitis had significantly higher costs. Patients with foot ulcers, osteomyelitis, and depression had significantly increased LOS. CONCLUSIONS: Systemic and local comorbidities significantly impact the cost, utilization, and inpatient mortality in inpatient management of Charcot foot.

The role of hamstring tightness in plantar fasciitis.

The purpose of this prospective cohort study was to determine if hamstring tightness was an increased risk in plantar fasciitis. It was thought that there is an increased risk of plantar fasciitis when hamstring tightness is present. A total of 105 patients (68 women, 37 men) were included in the study, 79 of whom were diagnosed with plantar fasciitis. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and the presence of plantar fasciitis, equinus, and calcaneal spurs were assessed. The popliteal angle was measured using standard diagnostic techniques. Without controlling for covariates, BMI, the presence of a calcaneal spur, tightness in the gastrocnemius, gastrocnemius-soleus, and hamstring all had statistically significant association with plantar fasciitis. After controlling for covariates, patients with hamstring tightness were about 8.7 times as likely to experience plantar fasciitis (P < .0001). Patients with BMI >35 were approximately 2.4 times as likely to experience plantar fasciitis compared with those with BMI <35 (P = .04). This study demonstrates that hamstring tightness plays a significant role in the presence of plantar fasciitis and should be addressed along with equinus and obesity when providing treatment to patients with this diagnosis.

Perioperative nutrition and the use of nutritional supplements.

The poor dietary habits and aging of the US population have caused a steady increase in the incidence of chronic disease. The prevalence of these diseases, such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, may have a significant effect on perioperative management, surgical outcome, and complication rates in these patients. Nutritional intervention and supplementation may help curb some of these potential adverse affects of poor nutrition by promoting wound healing; enhancing immunity; reducing swelling, bruising, and inflammation; and reducing oxidation caused by anesthetic agents and surgery. Although a perioperative regimen of dietary supplements may enhance surgical outcomes, it is equally important to know the popular herbal products that are contraindicated in the perioperative period.

Osteoporosis: pathogenesis, new therapies and surgical implications.

Many developments occurred in the realm of bone healing in recent years. Genetic discoveries, new proteins affecting bone health, and new treatments have steered our treatment of traumatic and iatrogenic fractures in new directions. Osteoporosis strikes many subsets of the world population, including: women, the elderly, and those suffering from arthritis, autoimmune diseases, HIV, and the immunocompromised. This disease predisposes people to an increased risk of low trauma and fragility fractures. The baby boomer generation and an increasing lifespan may burden the economy by creating such a large group susceptible to such a potentially devastating disease. The novel treatments and coping with the potentially challenging surgical implications will aide the podiatric physician in both medical and surgical management of osteoporosis.

The algorithmic approach to pediatric flexible pes planovalgus.

The author presents an alternative approach to the pediatric flexible pes planovalgus patient. Hopefully, this algorithm can serve as a guide and not as a rule. It is meant to serve the foot and ankle surgeon as a means of eliminating the arbitrary assignment of a flatfoot to procedures. Instead, the algorithm assigns procedures to a type of flatfoot. The specific procedures listed are a guide to reduce our failures while continually improving our successes.

Difficult and controversial pediatric cases: a roundtable on conservative and surgical management.

Pediatric clinical management is highly specialized. Problems are complex and often complicated by other medical issues that dictate limitations on therapeutic options. Appropriate diagnosis and successful clinical management depend on the experience and skill of the surgeon. This roundtable discussion focuses on seven difficult cases and presents the views of three experienced and skilled experts in the field.