Vancomycin Pre-soaking of ACL Tendon Grafts Is Highly Cost-Effective For Preventing Infection.

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to (1) determine if intraoperative graft soaking with vancomycin is a cost-effective measure for preventing infection after arthroscopic ACL reconstruction and (2) provide an adaptable model for providers and institutions to determine the cost effectiveness of this strategy over a range of initial infection rates, infection-related care costs, and vancomycin costs. Methods Baseline postoperative infection rates, and the costs of antibiotics and infection-related care were gathered from the literature. The cost of treating infection was determined for two alternative protocols—irrigation and debridement with revision ACL reconstruction or ACL graft retention. Using a break-even economic analysis, we developed an equation to determine the absolute risk reduction (ARR) in infection rate required for the use of vancomycin graft soaking to be deemed cost effective. To provide a widely applicable robust model, multiple simulations were performed at varying unit costs, infection rates, and ACL reconstruction postoperative infection related care costs. The number needed to treat (NNT) was calculated from the ARR. Results Intraoperative vancomycin was determined to be cost-effective if it prevents 1 infection in 550 cases (ARR=0.182%), given costs of $24,178 and 44$/1000 mg for revision ACL reconstruction and Vancomycin, respectively. If the ACL graft is retained following infection, intraoperative vancomycin was considered cost-effective if it prevents 1 infection in 146 cases (ARR=0.685%), given costs of $6,424 and $44/1000 mg for arthroscopic debridement and Vancomycin prophylaxis, respectively. For any specific cost of treating infection and cost of vancomycin, variation in baseline infection rates did not influence the economic viability of vancomycin graft soaking. This intervention remained economically viable over a wide range of unit costs of vancomycin. Conclusions Through break-even economic analysis, this study demonstrates that the use of intraoperative graft preparation with vancomycin is a highly cost-effective prophylactic measure for infection prevention in arthroscopic ACL reconstruction.