A microcosting study of the surgical correction of upper extremity deformity in children with spastic cerebral palsy

Objective: Determine healthcare costs of upper-extremity surgical correction in children with spastic cerebral palsy (CP).
Method: This cohort study included 39 children with spastic CP who had surgery for their upper extremity at a Dutch hospital. A retrospective cost analysis was performed including both hospital and rehabilitation costs. Hospital costs were determined using microcosting methodology. Rehabilitation costs were estimated using reference prices.
Results: Hospital costs averaged €6813 per child. Labor (50%), overheads (29%), and medical aids (15%) were important cost drivers. Rehabilitation costs were estimated at €3599 per child.
Conclusions: Surgery of the upper extremity is an important contributor to the healthcare costs of children with CP. Our study shows that labor is the most important cost driver for hospital costs, owing to the multidisciplinary approach and patient-specific treatment plan. A remarkable finding was the substantial amount of rehabilitation costs.