Cost Analysis of Screening Programmes for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip: A Systematic Review
Philip C. Harper, Rohit Gangadharan, Daryl Poku, Alexander Aarvold
Abstract
AIMS: The aim of this study was to assess screening costs in developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH), to provide any clarity on the cost-effectiveness of various hip screening programmes internationally. METHODS: A PROSPERO-registered systematic review was performed by examining cost analysis studies of various DDH screening programmes, including those based around clinical examination, selective ultrasound and universal ultrasound. Costs were analysed using narrative synthesis. RESULTS: clinical screening, two studies found it to be more expensive, one found it cheaper and three studies calculated the overall programme costs to be similar. With universal ultrasound, four studies calculated this to be cheaper than clinical or selective ultrasound screening due to a reduced late detection and surgery rate. However, a comparable number of studies concluded that the increased financial costs of universal ultrasound were greater than the reduction in surgical costs. No studies included any long-term data. CONCLUSION: There is a dearth of information on DDH screening costs, with significant heterogeneity amongst the existing literature. Future research should include the cost analysis of long-term complications of DDH, including the social and psychological impact of early onset arthritis, as well as gender specific ultrasound screening programmes.