Healthcare costs of different treatment options for condylar fractures
Loreine M.L. Helmer,
Leander Dubois,
Frank Lobbezoo,
Jan de Lange,
Judith E. Bosmans
Affiliations
Loreine M.L. Helmer
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam (AUMC) and Department of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, AZ Amsterdam ZO, Amsterdam, 1105, the Netherlands; Corresponding author. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Academic Medical Centre, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, AZ Amsterdam ZO, 1105, the Netherlands.
Leander Dubois
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam (AUMC), Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, AZ Amsterdam ZO, 1105, the Netherlands
Frank Lobbezoo
Departments of Oral Health Sciences and of Orofacial Pain and Dysfunction, Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081, LA, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Jan de Lange
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Academic Medical Centre of Amsterdam (AUMC), Academic Centre for Dentistry (ACTA), University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, AZ Amsterdam ZO, Amsterdam, 1105, the Netherlands
Judith E. Bosmans
Section Health Technology Assessment, Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081, BT Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Objective: As treatment options for condylar fractures have comparable outcomes, getting insight into associated costs is a first step towards implementing value-based healthcare (VBH). Therefore, we described the actual costs of the different treatment options (surgical, conservative, and expectative treatment) for condylar fractures. We expected surgical treatment to be the most expensive treatment. Study design: This is a cost-of-illness study, based on estimates from the literature. Firstly, care pathways of all treatment options were described. Secondly, the costs per step were calculated based on the literature and Dutch guidelines for economic evaluations in health care. Results: The direct treatment costs of surgical treatment (€3721 to €4040) are three to five times higher than conservative treatment (€730 to €1332). When lost productivity costs during the recovery period are included, costs of surgical treatment remain 1.5 times higher (€9511 to €9830 for surgical treatment and €6224 to €6826 for conservative treatment). The costs of expectative treatment (€5436) are lower than both other treatments. Conclusion: The costs for surgical treatment are considerably higher than those for conservative or expectative treatment, mainly related to direct treatment cost. Future research should focus on the patients’ perspective, to support implementation of VBH in treating condylar fractures.
