Single Versus Dual Spine Attending Surgeons in Complex Adult Deformity Surgery:

Two recent studies showed that having two attending spine surgeons performing complex adult
spine deformity surgery instead of one, decreased complications, unplanned surgeries within
30-days [Ames], 90-day readmissions, wound infection, pulmonary embolism/deep vein
thrombosis and post-operative neurologic complications [Sethi]. However, both studies were
retrospective and did not evaluate any cost-savings associated with having two spine
surgeons instead of one performing complex spine deformity surgery. With increasing scrutiny
on the efficient use of health care dollars, it would be important to determine if there are
any downstream cost savings to justify paying the surgeon fees of two spine attendings for
these complex and high cost cases.

Most cost-effectiveness studies have used traditional accounting (TA) methods to determine
costs. TA uses allocated expenses from the general ledger and payroll activity codes. These
codes are derived from billable items and procedures entered into accounting software. Costs
of services are grouped by cost types, across units of service.

A few cost-effectiveness studies have used time-driven activity-based costing (TDABC)
[Kaplan] in medicine [Au, Balakrishnan] and none in spine surgery. TDABC allows for detailed
identification of costs during all phases of a patient's care cycle. While TDABC has been
used in other industries, its use has been described only a few times in health care and
rarely in the operative setting [Balakrishnan]. This may be due to the large amount of
manpower necessary to collect TDABC data.

Objectives: The objectives of the study are (1) to determine if dual spine attendings reduce
downstream costs compared to a single spine attending for complex spine surgeries using
traditional accounting methods; and (2) to demonstrate an application of the TDABC method to
evaluate the operating room phase during complex adult spinal deformity surgery and compare
it to traditional accounting methods (TA).

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients scheduled for a complex spine adult deformity surgery.

1. instrumented posterior fusion from the thoracic spine into the pelvis, S1 or
iliac wings;

2. and/or any three-column posterior osteotomy, either a pedicle subtraction
osteotomy or a vertebral column resection.

2. Is at least 25 years of age inclusive at time of surgery.

3. Is willing and able to comply with the study plan and sign the Patient Informed
Consent Form

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Has presence of active malignancy.

2. Has overt or active bacterial infection, either local or systemic.

3. Is mentally incompetent.

4. Is a prisoner.

5. Is an alcohol and/or drug abuser as defined by currently undergoing treatment for
alcohol and/or drug abuse.

6. Is pregnant or plan to be pregnant during the course of the study.