Background: There is a paucity of research evaluating the cost-effectiveness of surgical interventions for rheumatoid arthritis patients. Previous reports have challenged the sustainability of improved outcomes after silicone metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty. The authors conducted an economic evaluation of the long-term health outcomes after silicone metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty.
Methods: The authors performed a 5-year prospective cohort study of 170 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (73 surgical and 97 nonsurgical). Objective functional measurements and patient-rated outcomes using the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire and the Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 were collected at 3 and 5 years. A cost-effectiveness analysis using direct costs from Medicare outpatient claims data (2006 to 2010) was performed to estimate the incremental cost-effectiveness ratios for both the Michigan and Arthritis Impact Measurement Scale 2 measurements.
Results: At 5 years, the authors observed a statistically significant difference in upper extremity outcomes (Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire) between the two groups, with surgical patients having higher outcomes. Costs associated with improved outcomes 5 years after surgery were $787 to $1150 when measured by the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire and $49,843 to $149,530 when measured by the Arthritis Impact scale. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios did not substantially increase with their observed surgical revision rate of 5.5 percent (approximately 4 percent increase in incremental cost-effectiveness ratio) or with previously published long-term revision rates of 6.2 percent (approximately 6 percent increase in incremental cost-effectiveness ratio).
Conclusions: Short-term improvements in upper extremity outcomes after silicone metacarpophalangeal arthroplasty are maintained over the 5-year follow-up period. These outcomes are achieved at a relatively low cost, even with the addition of potential surgical complications.