A statistics brief from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality placed spinal fusions at the top of the list of costliest hospital procedures.
The statistics were gathered from procedures performed in 2011. Spinal fusions accounted for $12.8 billion, around $16,600 per hospital stay, making them the costliest procedure. Laminectomy was also among the top 20 procedures, accounting for $2.3 billion.
According to the report, the top 20 procedures accounted for nearly half of all costs associated with hospital stays, even though they only make up 29 percent of hospital stays. The top 20 procedures include:
1. Spinal fusion — $12.8 billion ($16,600 per hospital stay)
2. Knee replacement — $11.3 billion ($27,600 per hospital stay)
3. Percutaneous coronary angioplasty — $9.7 billion ($15,900 per hospital stay)
4. Hip replacement — $8 billion ($17,200 per hospital stay)
5. Caesarean section — $7.5 billion ($5,900 per hospital stay)
6. Colorectal resection — $6.7 billion ($23,400 per hospital stay)
7. Coronary artery bypass graft — $6.4 billion ($38,700 per hospital stay)
8. Heart valve procedures — $6.1 billion ($53,400 per hospital stay)
9. Cholecystectomy and common duct exploration — $5 billion ($12,600 per hospital stay)
10. Treatment, fracture or dislocation of hip and femur — $4.3 billion ($16,800 per hospital stay)
11. Procedures related to pacemakers or cardioverters/defibrillators — $4 billion ($33,200 per hospital stay)
12. Abdominal or vaginal hysterectomy — $3.3 billion ($9,300 per hospital stay)
13. Debridement of wound, infection or burn — $2.6 billion ($20,700 per hospital stay)
14. Amputation of lower extremity — $2.6 billion ($21,200 per hospital stay)
15. Appendectomy — $2.4 billion ($9,200 per hospital stay)
16. Small bowel resection — $2.4 billion ($34,500 per hospital stay)
17. Laminectomy — $2.3 billion ($11,500 per hospital stay)
18. Treatment, fracture or dislocation of lower extremity (other than hip or femur) — $2.2 billion ($13,700 per hospital stay)
19. Lobectomy or pneumonectomy — $1.9 billion ($23,000 per hospital stay)
20. Circumcision — $1.9 billion ($2,000 per hospital stay)
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