Study evaluates economic impact of plastic and reconstructive surgical efforts in the developing world
Trips to perform reconstructive surgery procedures in developing countries are cost-effective in terms of reducing the impact of disability on the lives of patients, according to a report in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.
In the report entitled “Evaluating the Economic Impact of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Efforts in the Developing World: The ReSurge Experience”, researchers analysed the economic impact of surgical trips performed by ReSurge International. The organisation, which aims to provide reconstructive surgical care and build surgical capacity in developing countries, made 22 trips from 2014 to 2017 to eight countries in Asia, Africa, and South America. The average cost per trip was around $25,000 (£20,069.13).
During the trips, surgeons performed reconstructive surgery procedures on 756 patients, 60% of whom were children aged nine or younger. Cleft lip/palate repair was the most common procedure, followed by burn contracture release, eyelid (ptosis) surgery, and removal of soft tissue masses.
The researchers analysed the cost-effectiveness of these procedures, focusing on the cost to prevent one lost year of healthy life, or “disability-adjusted life year” (DALY).
In terms of reducing disability, the benefits of surgery were greatest for patients with cancer-related conditions, followed by cleft lip/palate and hand conditions. On average, the number of DALYs averted was about two per trip; cost-effectiveness ranged from $52 to $11,410 per DALY saved.
Based on World Health Organization criteria, 21 of the 22 trips were classified as cost-effective or very cost-effective. The exception was an “educator” trip performed mainly to teach local surgeons, where only two actual procedures were performed.
