Cost-Effectiveness of ABM/P-15 Versus Allograft in Degenerative Spondylolisthesis Surgery: Ten-Year Follow-Up on a Randomized Controlled Trial.

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STUDY DESIGN: Randomized controlled trial.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate whether ABM/P-15 was cost-effective compared with allograft as a bone graft extender for uninstrumented posterolateral fusion for degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis in elderly patients.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: In an increasingly elderly population with higher expectations of good health and quality of life, the need for durable surgery with minor risks of implant-related reoperations is growing. Specifically for lumbar fusion surgery, the need for a reliable bone graft material with acceptable fusion rates and low graft-related morbidity and risk of reoperation is important.

METHODS: This cost-effectiveness analysis was based on a single-center, blinded, randomized controlled trial, where patients with symptomatic degenerative spondylolisthesis were randomly assigned 1:1 to either ABM/P-15 or Allograft as bone graft material in uninstrumented posterolateral fusion. Quality-adjusted life years (QALY) were obtained from EQ-5D-3L. Use of health services was obtained from patient charts, costed and accumulated up to 10 years after index surgery.

RESULTS: The study included 101 patients with no inter-group differences in preoperative characteristics. On the basis of a bootstrapped analysis, the estimated the mean QALY gain for the ABM/P-15 group was 0.42 points (95% CI [-0.17; 1.08], P =0.185) greater compared with the Allograft group. Compared with the Allograft group, patients in the ABM/P-15 group had 20% less costs due to a significantly lower reoperation rate (18% vs. 43%, P =0.024), fewer visits to the outpatient clinic, magnetic resonance images, and fewer days of hospitalization.

CONCLUSIONS: The choice of bone graft material significantly affected cost-effectiveness of posterolateral lumbar fusion in elderly patients with degenerative spondylolisthesis at 10-year follow-up. ABM/P-15 showed dominance over Allograft with improved outcomes, lower health care costs, and lower reoperation rate.