Analysis of real-world length of stay data and costs associated with use of autologous skin cell suspension for the treatment of small burns in U.S. centers.

Abstract

Autologous skin cell suspension (ASCS) is a treatment for acute thermal burn injuries associated with significantly lower donor skin requirements than conventional split-thickness skin grafts (STSG). Projections using the BEACON model suggest that among patients with small burns (total body surface area [TBSA]<20%), use of ASCS±STSG leads to a shorter length of stay (LOS) in hospital and cost savings compared with use of STSG alone. This study evaluated whether data from real-world clinical practice corroborate these findings. Electronic medical record data were collected from January 2019 through August 2020 from 500 healthcare facilities in the United States. Adult patients receiving inpatient treatment with ASCS±STSG for small burns were identified and matched to patients receiving STSG using baseline characteristics. LOS was assumed to cost $7554/day and to account for 70% of overall costs. Mean LOS and costs were calculated for the ASCS±STSG and STSG cohorts. A total of 151 ASCS±STSG and 2243 STSG cases were identified; 63.0% of patients were male and the average age was 44.2 years. Sixty-three matches were made between cohorts. LOS was 18.5 days with ASCS±STSG and 20.6 days with STSG (difference: 2.1 days [10.2%]). This difference led to bed cost savings of $15,587.62 per ASCS±STSG patient. Overall cost savings with ASCS±STSG were $22,268.03 per patient. Analysis of real-world data shows that treatment of small burn injuries with ASCS±STSG provides reduced LOS and substantial cost savings compared with STSG, supporting the validity of the BEACON model projections.