High-Volume Hospitals Have Lower Open Reduction Rates and Lower Cost of Care for Pediatric Supracondylar Humerus Fractures

Abstract

Background: Open reduction and percutaneous pinning (ORPP) of pediatric supracondylar humerus (SCH) fractures is associated with increased morbidity compared to closed reduction. This investigation sought to assess variation in ORPP rates among U.S. children’s hospitals by hospital treatment volume and ranking. Secondarily, we investigated costs associated with ORPP and closed reduction and percutaneous pinning (CRPP). Methods: The Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS), a database of U.S. children’s hospitals, was queried for patients 3-10 years treated with ORPP or CRPP for closed SCH fractures from 2010-2014. Pediatric orthopaedic hospital rankings were collected from U.S. News and World Report . To account for differences in patient population, hospital ORPP rates were adjusted for patient characteristics. Analysis then assayed the effect of hospital treatment and ranking on cost of care and likelihood to treat with ORPP. Results: 28,100 patients were treated at 42 pediatric hospitals. 26,465 (94.2%) SCH fractures underwent CRPP and 1,635 (5.8%