Cost and Length of Stay in Spinal Fusion Patients Varies Widely Across the U.S.

The average cots and lengths of hospital stay for patients undergoing spinal fusion for idiopathic scoliosis patients vary widely across the United States, according to a report in HealthDay.

The study, published in the May 15 edition of Spine, examined medical billing records from 76,741 idiopathic scoliosis patients (ages 10-24). Of the total group, 955 underwent fusion surgery during 2004-2006, according to the report.

The average per patient charge was $113,303, with the highest charges in the West at $152,637 and the lowest in the South at $103,256, according to the report. The nationwide average for length of stay was 5.6 days, with the highest in the Midwest with 6.5 days and the lowest again in the South with 5.2 days.

The authors concluded that further research into complications and clinical outcomes could shed more light on reasons for the regional variance.

Read the HealthDay report on the regional cost of spinal fusion surgery.