Single-use pedicle screw kits from Neo Medical SA were found to reduce costs and time spent in the operating room in a recently published the study. The Swiss company offers pedicle screw kits and interbody cages in single use, pre-sterilized kits, that replace the multitude of heavy trays normally required for spine surgery.
Reduced Cost and OR Time With Single-Use Pedicle Screw Kits
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The article, “Value based healthcare: Maximizing efficacy and managing risk with spinal implant technology” was published online in Interdisciplinary Neurosurgery in June 2020.
The study compared Neo Medical’s single-use pedicle screw system with a conventional system that requires re-sterilization. The Neo Medical system includes a tray of single-use instruments, and a separate tray with pairs of pedicle screws pre-sterilized and pre-installed in sleeves for insertion. Rather than including 200+ screws, the company has selected a range of 14 screw sizes to include with the kits.
The study compared infection rates, inventory logistics, the time-consuming process of re-sterilization of instruments and unused implants which can lead to delays, lack of inventory, surgery cancellations, and additional treatments for infections that occur at a higher rate with reusable instruments. The study determined that the single-use kits save an average of $1,660 per case, and a reduce OR time by 21 minutes.
“Health expenditure has risen steadily and new value-based care technologies focusing on improving clinical outcomes while reducing overall costs to the healthcare system are critical to make sure that patients continue to get the best care moving forward,” said Neo Medical CEO Vincent Lefauconnier.
He continued, “In this context, this study further exemplifies that Neo Medical solutions are fit for value-based healthcare and will play a critical role in bringing sustainability to spinal surgery by helping improve patient outcomes while optimizing processes to reduce cost. Everybody, from patients, payers, to healthcare suppliers, stands to win when using our platform…. For us, this is another testament that focusing on value-based care in spinal surgery is the only sustainable option today.”
A common argument against the use of single-use instrument kits is the waste generated. A previous study, also covered by Orthopedics This Week found that single-use kits actually reduce the impact on the environment by 45-85%, primarily though savings from eliminating the need for re-sterilization.
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This is a fascinating development. In my practice we've seen similar outcomes with the revised protocol. The key differentiator seems to be patient selection criteria. Has anyone else noticed the correlation with BMI thresholds?
Great point. I'd push back slightly on the conclusion, the sample size in the cited study is too small to draw population-level inferences. That said, the directional signal is compelling and worth a larger RCT.
We implemented a similar approach last year. Early results are promising but we're still gathering 12-month follow-up data. Happy to share our protocol if anyone is interested.
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