Presurgical biopsychosocial variables predict medical, compensation, and aggregate costs of lumbar discectomy in Utah workers' compensation patients

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Elective lumbar discectomy among injured workers is a prevalent spine surgery that often requires a lengthy rehabilitation. It is important to determine presurgical biopsychosocial predictors of compensation and medical costs in such patients. PURPOSE: To determine if presurgical biopsychosocial variables are predictive of compensation and medical costs in a cohort of Utah patients who have undergone open or microlumbar discectomy that are receiving workers' compensation. STUDY DESIGN/SETTING: A retrospective cohort study consisting of a review of presurgical medical records and accrued medical and compensation costs. PATIENT SAMPLE: A consecutive sample of 266 compensated workers from Utah who had undergone either open discectomy or microlumbar discectomy from 1994 to 2000. All patients were at least 2 years postsurgery at the time of follow-up. OUTCOME MEASURES: Total accrued medical, compensation, and aggregate costs. METHODS: A retrospective review of presurgical biopsychosocial variables and total accrued medical, compensation, and aggregate costs. RESULTS: Presurgical variables were statistically significantly correlated with medical and compensation costs. Multiple linear regression models accounted for 31% of variation in compensation costs, 32% in medical costs, and 43% in total aggregate costs. CONCLUSIONS: Presurgical biopsychosocial variables are important predictors of compensated lumbar discectomy costs. Medical cost control programs might benefit from identifying biopsychosocial variables related to increased costs. Published by Elsevier Inc.