Economic Costs of Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury—A Population Based Study

Abstract

<h3>Research Objectives</h3> We have limited knowledge of the economic costs of traumatic spinal cord injury (SCI) by using the population-based data. Our objectives are to: 1) estimate the annual indirect costs based on their attendant care needs and their employment changes after SCI, 2) to identify the costs of motor vehicle modifications and home modifications after SCI, and 3) to investigate the association between the indirect costs and the direct costs of hospitalizations after SCI. <h3>Design</h3> Cross-sectional study. <h3>Setting</h3> A state SCI registry follow-up data in the southeastern United States and the state administrative billing data were analyzed by researchers at a medical university. <h3>Participants</h3> The direct costs of hospitalizations were based on 1,872 participants who received services for SCI in nonmilitary hospitals, and the direct costs estimates were based on 307 participants who have been followed up. <h3>Interventions</h3> N/A. <h3>Main Outcome Measures</h3> The outcome measures were average costs of hospitalizations, attendant care, motor vehicle and home modifications, and the average forgone earnings after SCI. <h3>Results</h3> The annual indirect costs of SCI ranged from $35,248 to $100,838 depending on participants' neurologic categories, while the annual direct costs of hospitalization ranged from $27,437 to $69,469. The total costs of motor vehicle and home modifications ranged from $1,401 to $19,093. We did not find the significant association between the indirect costs and the direct costs of hospitalizations. <h3>Conclusions</h3> This study is the first attempt to estimate the indirect costs and the direct costs after SCI in the United States since the 1990s, and it indicates that SCI leads to a heavy economic burden affecting individuals, their families, and the society. <h3>Author(s) Disclosures</h3> The authors have no financial or non-financial disclosures.