Effect And Cost Analysis Of Two Treatments Of Knee Osteoarthritis

Objective: According to a retrospective study of medical records, we analyzed effect and cost of patients with knee osteoarthritis performing minimally invasive surgical treatment and non-surgical (conservative) treatment. We aim at providing a theoretical basis of medical clinical decision and accumulating experience for follow-up evaluation for the broader choice of two treatment methods. Methods: We retrospective- ly summarized the indicators such as clinical effect, hospital charges and rehabilitation cost from 50 patients by minimally invasive treatment and 72 patients by conservative treatment from a three grade hospital in the city of Urumqi from January 2005 to November 2008 and had analysis of effect and cost. Results: There was no difference among the key indicators such as age, weight, tribe and hospital days which affect effect and cost. Follow-ups were done for 32.86 months on average. There was difference between clinical classification and X-ray grading, having statistical significance; the total knee score of minimally invasive group was higher than that of conservative group; the quality of life score in minimally invasive group was higher than that in conservative group; positive correlation was found between the knee score difference and the quality of life score in minimally invasive group, having statistical significance; average hospital charges in minimally invasive group were higher than in conservative group; average rehabilitation costs in minimally invasive group were lower than in conservative group; average total cost in minimally invasive group was higher than that in conservative group; negative correlation can be found between the rehabilitation costs and the knee score in minimally invasive group, having statistical significance; negative correlation can be found between the rehabilitation costs and the quality of life score in minimally invasive group, having statistical significance; negative correlation exists between the rehabilitation costs and the quality of life score in minimally invasive group, having statistical significance; negative correlation occurs between the total costs and the quality of life score in conservative group, having statistical significance. Conclusion: The effect of minimally invasive group(knee score?SF-36 quality of life score) are superior to non-surgical (conservative) group. Treating knee osteoarthritis by Minimally invasive arthroscopic debridement surgery have a good effect but have a high cost, being apt to the patients who have severe symptoms with knees such as locking, hurting, swelling and have uncertain effect under non-surgical (conservative) treatment; treating knee osteoarthritis by non-surgical (conservative) treatment have a general effect but have a low cost, being apt to the patients in early stages and with mild symptoms...