Total ankle replacement less costly in ASCs

Editor's Note

A study presented at the 2016 American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons Annual Meeting found that total ankle replacements performed in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) were about $4,000 less than those performed in inpatient facilities, the October Orthopedics Today reports.

The 4-year study included 574 total ankle replacements performed at either an ASC or an inpatient facility.

If all patients were to have had their total ankle replacements done in an ASC during the study period, the government would have saved about $1.5 million, the author says.

Orthopedics Today | TORONTO -Total ankle replacements performed in an ambulatory surgical center offered more cost-savings benefits than an inpatient facility, according to results presented at the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Surgeons Annual Meeting.“Performing total ankle replacement in ambulatory surgery centers is cost-effective,” Christopher E. Gross, MD, told Orthopedics Today.