COMPARATIVE COST-ANALYSIS OF COLLAGEN INJECTION AND FASCIA LATA SLINGCYSTOURETHROPEXY FOR THE TREATMENT OF TYPE-III INCONTINENCE IN WOMEN

Purpose: We examined the cost of 2 common forms of surgical treatment of genuine stress urinary incontinence due to intrinsic sphincter defi ciency, that is sling cystourethropexy and periurethral collagen injec tion. Materials and Methods: Between May 1994 and July 1995, 14 women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency underwent sling cystourethropexies . A total of 14 matched patients with intrinsic sphincter deficiency u nderwent endoscopic collagen injection during the same period. Results : The total cost per treatment of fascia lata sling cystourethropexy ( $10,382) was 2.1 times greater than that for collagen injection ($4,99 6, p < 0.001). At an average followup of 14.9 months for fascia lata c ystourethropexy and 21.3 months for collagen injection, 71.4% of patie nts in the former and 26.7% in the latter groups were completely conti nent (p = 0.05). One or no pads were used daily by 85 and 40% of the p atients, respectively. Conclusions: Fascia lata sling cystourethropexy may be a more cost-effective surgical treatment than periurethral end oscopic collagen injection for treating genuine stress urinary inconti nence in women with intrinsic sphincter deficiency when the greater su ccess rate of the former procedure is considered.