Selective dorsal rhizotomy; evidence on cost-effectiveness from England.

OBJECTIVES: Selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) has gained interest as an intervention to reduce spasticity and pain, and improve quality of life and mobility in children with cerebral palsy mainly affecting the legs (diplegia). We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of SDR in England. METHODS: Cost-effectiveness was quantified with respect to Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-66) and the pain dimension of the Cerebral Palsy Quality of Life questionnaire for Children (CPQOL-Child). Data on outcomes following SDR over two years were drawn from a national evaluation in England which included 137 children, mean age 6.6 years at surgery. The incremental impact of SDR on GMFM-66 was determined through comparison with data from a historic Canadian cohort not undergoing SDR. Another single centre provided data on hospital care over ten years for 15 children undergoing SDR at a mean age of 7.0 years, and a comparable cohort managed without SDR. The incremental impact of SDR on pain was determined using a before and after comparison using data from the national evaluation. Missing data were imputed using multiple imputation. Incremental costs of SDR were determined as the difference in costs over 5 years for the patients undergoing SDR and those managed without SDR. Uncertainty was quantified using bootstrapping and reported as the cost-effectiveness acceptability curve. RESULTS: In the base case, the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for SDR are £1,382 and £903 with respect to a unit improvement in GMFM-66 and the pain dimension of CPQOL-Child, respectively. Inclusion of data to 10 years indicates SDR is cheaper than management without SDR. Incremental costs and ICERs for SDR rose in sensitivity analysis applying an alternative regression model to cost data. CONCLUSIONS: Data on outcomes from a large observational study of SDR and long-term cost data on children who did and did not receive SDR indicates SDR is cost-effective.

Stereotactic radio surgery and radio frequency rhizotomy for trigeminal neuralgia in multiple sclerosis: A single institution experience.

OBJECTIVES: For patients with medically unresponsive trigeminal neuralgia (TN), surgical options include micro vascular decompression (MVD), radiofrequency rhizotomy (RF), and stereotactic radio surgery (SRS). Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a demyelinating condition that can be associated with TN, but is not amenable to treatment with MVD. We sought to identify the outcome differences of patients with TN in MS undergoing SRS or RFR in an attempt to identify factors that may influence outcomes. We also evaluated cost outcomes, both initially and over time, based on the index procedure. We performed a retrospective review of our experience with 17 cases. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A single institution retrospective chart review was performed. Since 1997, 17 patients with TN and MS have been treated at our institution. All patients underwent a preoperative MRI to rule out a compressive lesion. Patients either underwent SRS (n=7) or RFR (n=10) as their index procedure and were evaluated as a group based on this first procedure. Outcome measures included preoperative Expand Disability Status Score (EDSS) scores, pre- and postoperative facial pain and medication use, post-intervention facial numbness, need for subsequent procedures, and duration of follow-up. Charges for the index procedure, subsequent interventions, and total costs were tabulated and analyzed in 2017 US dollars, adjusting for inflation. RESULTS: The median age of patients at first operation in each group was 58.5±10.9 and 63.5±7.5 for SRS and RFR respectively. There were no significant differences in basic demographics. Overall, 71% of these patients had an excellent or good initial pain outcome. Over time, 60% of RFR and 29% of SRS patients required additional procedures to obtain satisfactory pain relief. The patients who underwent RFR as their index procedure required a significantly higher number of procedures to achieve adequate pain relief (RFR=2.7 vs SRS=2.0 [p=0.04]). The average index procedure costs in US dollars were significantly different (SRS=53,300±5257 vs RFR=12,315±3387). The average subsequent costs (costs incurred following the initial intervention) (SRS=8320±17,842, RFR=36,002±46,767) and total costs (SRS=61,620±16,087, RFR=48,317±48,475) were not statistically significantly different. CONCLUSION: TN in the setting of MS is highly difficult to treat medically with SRS and RFR being offered as options for these patients. Both can provide good initial pain relief. For patients who have RFR as their initial procedure, a larger number of procedures are required for relief compared to patients who initially underwent SRS. While there is a significant difference in the cost of the initial procedure, over time, with the cost of required subsequent interventions, there is no significant difference in total costs between the two groups.

Lumbosacral Dorsal Rhizotomy for Spastic Cerebral Palsy: A Health Technology Assessment.

BACKGROUND: Cerebral palsy, a spectrum of neuromuscular conditions caused by abnormal brain development or early damage to the brain, is the most common cause of childhood physical disability. Lumbosacral dorsal rhizotomy is a neurosurgical procedure that permanently decreases spasticity and is always followed by physical therapy. The objectives of this health technology assessment were to evaluate the clinical effectiveness, safety, cost effectiveness, and family perspectives of dorsal rhizotomy. METHODS: We performed a systematic literature search until December 2015 with auto-alerts until December 2016. Search strategies were developed by medical librarians, and a single reviewer reviewed the abstracts. The health technology assessment included a clinical review based on functional outcomes, safety, and treatment satisfaction; an economic study reviewing cost-effective literature; a budget impact analysis; and interviews with families evaluating the intervention. RESULTS: Eighty-four studies (1 meta-analysis, 5 randomized controlled studies [RCTs], 75 observational pre-post studies, and 3 case reports) were reviewed. A meta-analysis of RCTs involving dorsal rhizotomy and physical therapy versus physical therapy confirmed reduced lower-limb spasticity and increased gross motor function (4.5%, P = .002). Observational studies reported statistically significant improvements in gross motor function over 2 years or less (12 studies, GRADE moderate) and over more than 2 years (10 studies, GRADE moderate) as well as improvements in functional independence in the short term (10 studies, GRADE moderate) and long term (4 studies, GRADE low). Major operative complications, were infrequently reported (4 studies). Bony abnormalities and instabilities monitored radiologically in the spine (15 studies) and hip (8 studies) involved minimal or clinically insignificant changes after surgery. No studies evaluated the cost effectiveness of dorsal rhizotomy. The budget impact of funding dorsal rhizotomy for treatment of Ontario children with cerebral palsy was $1.3 million per year. Families reported perceived improvements in their children and expressed satisfaction with treatment. Ontario families reported inadequate medical information on benefits or risk to make an informed decision, enormous financial burdens, and lack rehabilitation support after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Lumbrosacral dorsal rhizotomy and physical therapy effectively reduces lower-limb spasticity in children with spastic cerebral palsy and significantly improves their gross motor function and functional independence. Major peri-operative complications were infrequently reported. Families reported perceived improvements with dorsal rhizotomy, and surgery and post-operative rehabilitation were intensive and demanding.

A cost-utility analysis of sacral anterior root stimulation (SARS) compared with medical treatment in patients with complete spinal cord injury with a neurogenic bladder.

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Sacral anterior root stimulation (SARS) and posterior sacral rhizotomy restores the ability to urinate on demand with low residual volumes, which is a key for preventing urinary complications that account for 10% of the causes of death in patients with spinal cord injury with a neurogenic bladder. Nevertheless, comparative cost-effectiveness results on a long time horizon are lacking to adequately inform decisions of reimbursement. PURPOSE: This study aimed to estimate the long-term cost-utility of SARS using the Finetech-Brindley device compared with medical treatment (anticholinergics+catheterization). STUDY DESIGN/SETTINGS: The following study design is used for the paper: Markov model elaborated with a 10-year time horizon; with four irreversible states: (1) initial treatment, (2) year 1 of surgery for urinary complication, (3) year >1 of surgery for urinary complication, and (4) death; and reversible states: urinary calculi; Finetech-Brindley device failures. PATIENT SAMPLE: The sample consisted of theoretical cohorts of patients with a complete spinal cord lesion since ≥1 year, and a neurogenic bladder. OUTCOME MEASURES: Effectiveness was expressed as quality adjusted life years (QALYs). Costs were valued in EUR 2013 in the perspective of the French health system. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analyses were performed to estimate transition probabilities and QALYs. Costs were estimated from the literature, and through simulations using the 2013 French prospective payment system classification. Probabilistic analyses were conducted to handle parameter uncertainty. RESULTS: In the base case analysis (2.5% discount rate), the cost-utility ratio was 12,710 EUR per QALY gained. At a threshold of 30,000 EUR per QALY the probability of SARS being cost-effective compared with medical treatment was 60%. If the French Healthcare System reimbursed SARS for 80 patients per year during 10 years (anticipated target population), the expected incremental net health benefit would be 174 QALYs, and the expected value of perfect information (EVPI) would be 4.735 million EUR. The highest partial EVPI is reached for utility values and costs (1.3-1.6 million EUR). CONCLUSIONS: Our model shows that SARS using Finetech-Brindley device offers the most important benefit and should be considered cost-effective at a cost-effectiveness threshold of 30,000 EUR per QALY. Despite a high uncertainty, EVPI and partial EVPI may indicate that further research would not be profitable to inform decision-making.

Surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia: use and cost-effectiveness from an analysis of the Medicare Claims Database.

BACKGROUND: Trigeminal neuralgia is a relatively common neurosurgical pathology with multiple management options. Microvascular decompression (MVD) is nonablative and is considered the gold standard. However, stereotaxic radiosurgery (SRS) and percutaneous stereotaxic rhizotomy (PSR) are 2 noninvasive but ablative options that have rapidly gained support. OBJECTIVE: To use Medicare claims data in conjunction with a literature review to assess the usage, effectiveness, and cost-effectiveness of the 3 different invasive treatments for trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: All of the claims of trigeminal neuralgia treatment were extracted from the 2011 5% Inpatient and Outpatient Limited Data Set. Current Procedural Terminology, 4th Edition/International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision codes for the 3 different surgical treatment modalities were used to further classify these claims. Kaplan-Meier survival curves in key articles were used to calculate quality-adjusted life years and cost-effectiveness for each procedure. RESULTS: A total of 1582 claims of trigeminal neuralgia were collected. Ninety-four (6%) patients underwent surgical intervention. Forty-eight (51.1%) surgical patients underwent MVD, 39 (41.5%) underwent SRS, and 7 (7.4%) underwent PSR. The average weighted costs for MVD, SRS, and PSR were $40 434.95, $38 062.27, and $3910.64, respectively. The quality-adjusted life years were 8.2 for MVD, 4.9 for SRS, and 6.5 for PSR. The cost per quality-adjusted life year was calculated as $4931.1, $7767.8, and $601.64 for MVD, SRS, and PSR, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the most frequently used surgical management of trigeminal neuralgia is MVD, followed closely by SRS. PSR, despite being the most cost-effective, is by far the least utilized treatment modality.

Cost-effectiveness in the surgical treatments for trigeminal neuralgia.

Increasing costs of healthcare call for rational approaches based on cost-effectiveness of the surgical procedures. When treating trigeminal neuralgia, therapeutic options vary widely as does their cost. We have compared microvascular decompression (MVD), radiofrequency rhizotomy (RFR), percutaneous balloon compression of the Gasser ganglion (PBC) and gamma knife rhizotomy (GKR) for length of stay, cost of the stay, of the procedure, of disposable material and of specific hospital investments. This was compared to the immediate and long-term (>5 years) efficacy of the procedures. The evaluated total cost were 1,014 for PBC and RFR, 3,360 for MVD with a 2-day hospital stay, 4,560 for MVD with a 5-day hospital stay, and 3,424 for GKR. In addition, RFR requires investing in a generator (10,000 ) and GKR requires a gamma knife suite (3,000,000 ). MVD, PBC and RFR allow immediate relief of the pain, GKS having a more progressive effect. Long-term results, however, are comparable, all techniques having at least a 25% recurrence rate between 5 and 10 years postoperatively. Although all surgical techniques allow pain relief in trigeminal neuralgia, from an economical point of view, percutaneous techniques are more cost-effective than MVD and GKR. They should be considered as the first therapeutical option, keeping the more expensive procedures for percutaneous treatment failures or for medically justified indications.

A prospective cost-effectiveness study of trigeminal neuralgia surgery.

OBJECTIVES: Approximately 8000 patients with trigeminal neuralgia undergo surgery each year in the United States at an estimated cost exceeding $100 million. We compared 3 commonly performed surgeries (microvascular decompression, glycerol rhizotomy, and stereotactic radiosurgery) to evaluate the relative cost-effectiveness of these operations for patients with idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia. METHODS: Prospective nonrandomized trial at a tertiary referral center from July 1999 to December 2001. One hundred twenty-six consecutive patients underwent 153 operations (microvascular decompression, n=33; glycerol rhizotomy, n=51; stereotactic radiosurgery, n=69). Preoperative characteristics were similar between the groups with respect to sex, pain location, duration of pain, and atypical features. Facial pain outcomes were classified as excellent (no pain, no medications), good (no pain, reduced medications), fair (>50% pain reduction), and poor. The cost per quality adjusted pain-free year was compared between the groups. Mean follow-up was 20.6 months. RESULTS: Patients having microvascular decompression more commonly achieved and maintained an excellent outcome (85% and 78% at 6 and 24 months) compared with glycerol rhizotomy (61% and 55%, P=0.01) and stereotactic radiosurgery (60% and 52%, P<0.01). No difference was detected between glycerol rhizotomy and stereotactic radiosurgery (P=0.61). The cost per quality adjusted pain-free year was $6,342, $8,174, and $8,269 for glycerol rhizotomy, microvascular decompression, and stereotactic radiosurgery, respectively. Reduction in the average cost of morbidity and additional surgeries to zero did not make either microvascular decompression or stereotactic radiosurgery more cost-effective than glycerol rhizotomy. Both microvascular decompression and stereotactic radiosurgery would be more cost-effective than glycerol rhizotomy if the cost of additional surgeries after glycerol rhizotomy increased 79% and 83%, respectively. DISCUSSION: This analysis supports the practice of percutaneous surgeries for older patients with medically unresponsive trigeminal neuralgia. At longer follow-up intervals, microvascular decompression is predicted to be the most cost-effective surgery and should be considered the preferred operation for patients if their risk for general anesthesia is acceptable. More data are needed to assess the role that radiosurgery should play in the management of patients with trigeminal neuralgia.

Sacral rhizotomies and electrical bladder stimulation in spinal cord injury. 2. Cost-effectiveness and quality of life analysis. Dutch Study Group on Sacral Anterior Root Stimulation.

OBJECTIVES: To present a cost-effectiveness analysis of sacral rhizotomies and electrical bladder stimulation compared with conventional care of neurogenic bladder dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury. METHODS: During a 3-year inclusion period, data on costs and quality of life before the intervention were collected to describe conventional care. Data on the pre-implantation period, the implantation and a follow-up period of 2 years were collected following a strict protocol simultaneous with medical and urodynamic data and were used to calculate the costs and effects on quality of life of the implantation of the stimulator. RESULTS: Between June 1991 and June 1994, 52 patients with complete cervical or thoracic spinal cord lesions underwent sacral posterior rhizotomies and implantation of a Finetech-Brindley sacral anterior root stimulator. Although the initial costs of sacral anterior root stimulation are high, they are earned back in this series in about 8 years after the implantation. General indicators of the quality of life show no significant changes after the implantation. Factors related to psychological well-being and the patients' satisfaction with the emptying of the bladder increased significantly whereas the experienced problems of micturition and incontinence all decreased significantly. CONCLUSION: Sacral rhizotomies and electrical bladder stimulation make a cost-effective method of treatment of lower urinary tract dysfunction in patients with spinal cord injury. Considerable savings on health care costs are possible in the long run with simultaneous positive effects on aspects of health status.