Value-Based Rotator Cuff Repair

This surgical technique maximizes patient benefits and minimizes costs.

Rotator cuff injury is one of the most common types of musculoskeletal injury in the United States, and it can significantly impact a person’s quality of life. Patients with torn rotator cuffs typically experience anywhere from mild to severe pain as well as loss of mobility in the affected arm and shoulder. For more severe tears, surgery is often unavoidable. 

There are steep costs associated with surgical repairs, but this value-based hybrid approach can significantly reduce the cost of surgery without compromising the quality of results. 

The Technique

As the name suggests, this technique adds value for patients. More and more, people are looking for outpatient surgery options as well as ways to reduce the costs associated with these procedures. The value-based rotator cuff repair technique serves to meet these patient demands. 

First, this technique replaces costly anchors that have previously been used to repair rotator cuffs with an innovative suturing technique. These anchors can cost several hundred dollars each, and this adds up quickly – some rotator cuff injuries require three or four anchors to repair. Additionally, this new technique is performed as a minimally invasive arthroscopic outpatient procedure. This means quicker recovery time and, in most cases, no need for an overnight stay. 

The Benefits

Reduced Cost. Because this technique eliminates the need for anchors, there is less cost associated with the procedure. For more severe tears, this technique can save patients over $1,000.  

Equal or Improved Outcome. This technique can achieve the same strong results as the anchored approach without leaving inert material behind in the body.

Individualized Approach. Without being limited by anchor configuration, your doctor has more control over the procedure. They can create a specialized plan to address your unique needs and use the suturing technique that will give you the best possible outcome. 

Outpatient Procedure. This technique is performed arthroscopically rather than with open surgery, which is far less invasive and leads to faster healing. Because it can be performed as an outpatient procedure, patients save both time and additional hospital costs.

man who had value based rotator cuff repair

An Expert Weighs In

“As a vascular surgeon in this region for almost 20 years, I love it when improvements in technology or new knowledge can be brought to the patients in this area. At VIC, we want to perfect the outpatient experience for endovascular and interventional minimally invasive procedures. The WavelinQ Dialysis Access program is one step closer to achieving this goal for our patients who deserve only the best knowledge, technology, and experience.”

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