New White Paper Highlights Advances in Computer Assisted Surgery
The CAS White Paper compiles information from hundreds of recent peer-reviewed articles in medical literature, which demonstrate improved patient outcomes resulting from CAS. It highlights a number of clinical studies in brain, cranial, ear, nose, and throat (ENT), spinal, and orthopedic surgeries.
CAS is the application of advanced computerized technologies in the planning, performance and follow-up of invasive surgical procedures. CAS has emerged as a less invasive, more efficient alternative to many types of traditional hand-guided surgery. It provides an increased level of patient safety and an overall reduction in patient morbidity. Using CAS methods, surgeons can make more accurate diagnoses before and during surgery as well as more precisely position their surgical instruments. As a result, procedures are shorter and protocols are improved. In addition, improved surgical accuracy has led to less invasive approaches, reduced complications, more complete resections, and fewer patient re-admissions.
For example, CAS in total knee arthroscopy (TKA) has improved surgical accuracy and outcomes. In TKA, minor misalignment can lead to early loosening, wear, and poor function. In the CAS patients, 80 percent of the knee implants were in the correct bending position versus only 22 percent in traditional surgery.
"Computer assisted surgery is transforming the way we diagnose, screen, and treat patients," said AdvaMed President Pamela G. Bailey. "These technologies are part of a growing wave of innovations that are improving outcomes and producing savings to the health care system and society. This report clearly illustrates the value of these types of technologies in improving patient care and outcomes."
Bailey noted there is a critical need to be able to track the utilization and value of CAS through distinct procedure codes. Unfortunately, there are no separate ICD-9-CM procedure codes for CAS technologies. She stated that new codes should be developed and implemented as soon as possible.
The CAS White Paper can be found at: http://www.advamed.org/newsroom/caswhitepaper.pdf
AdvaMed is the world's largest association representing manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products, and medical information systems. AdvaMed's more than 1,100 members and subsidiaries manufacture nearly 90 percent of the $75 billion of health care technology products purchased annually in the United States, and more than 50 percent of the $175 billion purchased annually around the world. AdvaMed members range from the largest to the smallest medical technology innovators and companies. Nearly 70 percent of our members have fewer than $30 million in sales annually.