COST COMPARISON BETWEEN BILATERAL SIMULTANEOUS, STAGED, AND UNILATERAL TOTAL JOINT ARTHROPLASTY

A hospital-based computer system was used to compare the inpatient cos ts of performing bilateral simultaneous sequential, staged, and unilat eral total hip and knee arthroplasties. Bilateral simultaneous sequent ial total knee arthroplasty was 36% less costly than 2 unilateral tota l knee arthroplasties. Bilateral simultaneous sequential total hip art hroplasty saved 25% over the costs of performing 2 unilateral hip arth roplasties. Prosthetic costs range between 28% and 43% of the total co sts of hospitalization. There was a significant correlation between ho spital length of stay, morbidity, and total costs, but no correlation with patient age and sex except in the unilateral knee patients. Bilat eral simultaneous sequential joint arthroplasty can save more than $10 ,000 for each total knee patient and more than $8,000 for each total h ip patient.