Perception Versus Reality in the Cost of Orthopedic Trauma Implants

Our data indicate orthopedic physicians are not aware of true implant costs and nearly half of attendings would not consider cost as a factor in deciding between equivalent implants, even if this affected their reimbursement. Most notably, participants showed a poor ability to closely estimate the cost of more expensive implants (actual device cost greater than $2000). Our results suggest that medical cost containment should be stressed to the next generation of surgeons.