Background: The standard of care for patients with alveolar cleft deformities is autologous bone grafting using iliac crest bone graft (ICBG). The combination of demineralized bone matrix with recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (DBX/rhBMP-2), as a substitute for ICGB, has been shown to have similar bony incorporation within the maxilla without donor-site morbidity. It has been argued that one of the drawbacks of using DBX/rhBMP-2 is the higher cost. The aim of this study was to compare the cost, operative time, and hospital length of stay associated with these two treatment modalities.
Methods: A chart review was conducted for 71 patients who underwent secondary alveolar cleft reconstruction. Forty patients received ICBG and 31 patients underwent reconstruction using DBX/rhBMP-2. Operative costs, operative time, and hospital length of stay were compared between the two groups.
Results: The average total operative cost was $6892 in the ICBG surgery population versus $4836 in the DBX/rhBMP-2 population (p < 0.01). Statistically significant decreases in anesthesia, pharmacy, and operating room costs were found in patients who underwent the DBX/rhBMP-2 surgery. Operative time decreased from an average of 97.3 minutes to 67.0 minutes (p < 0.01), and length of inpatient stay decreased from an average of 29.8 hours to 9.3 hours (p < 0.01).
Conclusion: In the treatment of alveolar cleft deformities, operative material costs were greater in the DBX/rhBMP-2 group but-secondary to decreased hospital, anesthesia, pharmacy, and operating room costs-DBX/rhBMP-2 was more cost-effective than ICBG.