Surgical Outcomes and Medical Costs Associated with Spinal Cord Tumors: Comparison of Extramedullary and Intramedullary Tumors

Abstract

This study aimed to clarify the differences in the perioperative data of patients with extramedullary and intramedullary tumors and estimate the impact of surgery on medical costs. This single-center retrospective study included consecutive patients who underwent spinal tumor resection between September 2020 and December 2022. The perioperative medical information and medical costs for individual patients were obtained from their medical records. Thirty-two patients with extramedullary spinal cord tumors and 18 with intramedullary spinal cord tumors were included in the study. The 2 groups had no difference in surgery-related or major systemic complications. However, the operation time and the length of hospital stay were significantly longer and activities of daily living at discharge tended to worsen in the intramedullary tumor group compared to those in the extramedullary tumor group. As a result, the discharge outcome was significantly different between the 2 groups. The total medical costs for intramedullary tumors were approximately 1.43 times higher than those for extramedullary tumors. Further, a better functional outcome at discharge can save medical costs, regardless of extramedullary or intramedullary tumors. Surgery for intramedullary tumors can be performed with similar perioperative risks as for extramedullary tumors. However, intramedullary tumors are associated with concerns, such as prolonged hospitalization and worsening of activities of daily living at discharge, which ultimately result in higher medical costs.