Description
In this presentation, Major Charles Handford discusses the economic benefits of osseointegration for military personnel who have undergone amputations. Paul Hindle introduces the topic, emphasizing the crucial moral and clinical arguments for such interventions, despite NHS England's financial constraints that necessitate a robust economic case. Handford highlights the financial prudence required in NHS treatments, using prospectively collected data to analyze the effectiveness of osseointegration.
He explains the conversion of patient data into EQ-5D scores, showcasing improved quality of life post-surgery, with results indicating a significant increase in health utility scores over time, particularly after five years post-operation. Though acknowledging the initial high costs, he presents evidence that these costs become reasonable over a duration of approximately 5.8 years, demonstrating that osseointegration becomes cost-effective while adding substantial value to the patients' lives.
Handford suggests that such procedures not only restore physical capabilities but also enhance mental health, familial relationships, and overall well-being, thereby contributing positively to the economy through tax contributions from reintegrated personnel. The presentation concludes with a call to translate the findings into both military and civilian medical practice, highlighting the potential for osseointegration to assist in treatments related to severe injuries or tumor surgeries.