A study recently published in The Spine Journal examined the cost and quality of life for patients with C5 palsy after posterior cervical decompression and fusion.
Researchers examined 245 patients who underwent posterior cervical decompression and fusion, and 17 had C5 palsy. After matching these patients to 34 controls, there were no significant differences in demographic or operative characteristics between the two groups. However, those who had C5 palsy were also at reduced capacity for self-care in the immediate postoperative period and long-term.
The C5 palsy group incurred greater cost for physical and occupational therapy — costing around $2,078 more than the control group. There were no differences in costs related to hospital stay, surgery or other direct and indirect costs.
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