Cost comparison of low-field (0.23 T) MRI-guided laser ablation and surgery in the treatment of osteoid osteoma

The purpose of this study was to analyze the costs of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-guided laser ablation and to compare them with the costs of surgery in the treatment of osteoid osteoma. Seven patients with osteoid osteoma were treated with MRI-guided interstitial laser ablation during 1 year. The reference material consisted of six patients whose osteoid osteoma was treated surgically by either superficial or deep excision with metallic fixation. The costs were analyzed by using activity-based cost accounting. The mean cost of the MRI-guided laser ablation was 2,392 euros and of the excision of superficially located osteoid osteoma 1,807 euros. The cost of excision of deeply located osteoma with metallic fixation was considerably higher (4,996 euros). This was due to the higher material, personnel, and ward costs. The cost of MRI-guided laser ablation of osteoid osteoma was higher than the cost of surgical excision of a superficial osteoma but considerably lower than the cost of excision of a deeply located osteoma where metallic fixation was needed. When the number and mean cost of sick days or days of restricted weight bearing were also included, the cost of MRI-guided laser ablation was lower than the costs of either superficial or deep excision. (orig.)