Cost of Headless vs Headed Screw Fixation for Calcaneal Osteotomy and Subtalar Arthrodesis.
Document Type
Article
Publication Title
Foot & Ankle Orthopaedics
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Screw head prominence in the heel following fixation for calcaneal osteotomy or subtalar arthrodesis has resulted in high rates of symptomatic hardware and screw removal. A cost analysis was performed to determine the financial implications of screw removal. Furthermore, we compared the rate of nonunion following fixation.
METHODS:
RESULTS: Seventy-six patients underwent headless screw fixation, and 2 patients (2.6%) required screw removal. Fifty-four patients underwent headed screw fixation and 12 patients (22.2%) required screw removal. Symptomatic hardware removal was performed more frequently in the headed screw group (
CONCLUSION: The rate of symptomatic screw removal was lower with headless screw fixation. The calcaneal osteotomy healed in 100% of patients, and there was no difference in the rate of subtalar nonunion between the 2 groups. Cost analysis demonstrated a significant benefit when the expense of hardware removal was considered.
LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level III, retrospective cohort study.
First Page
2473011420977864
Last Page
2473011420977864
DOI
10.1177/2473011420977864
Publication Date
1-1-2021
Recommended Citation
Boren M, Steginsky B, Suhling M, Vora A. Cost of Headless vs Headed Screw Fixation for Calcaneal Osteotomy and Subtalar Arthrodesis. Foot Ankle Orthop. 2021 Jan 11;6(1):2473011420977864. doi: 10.1177/2473011420977864. PMID: 35097422; PMCID: PMC8702910.