Healthcare costs of post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy in Belgium - A retrospective analysis

• Published in: Journal of cranio-maxillo-facial surgery 2022-08, Vol.50 (8), p.627-636
• Main Authors: Van der Cruyssen, Fréderic, Nys, Margaux, Renton, Tara, Vandeleene, Gauthier, Callens, Michiel, Vanhaecht, Kris, Jacobs, Reinhilde, Politis, Constantinus, Luyten, Jeroen
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Health care costs; Medicin och hälsovetenskap; Neuropathic pain; Post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy; Resource utilization
• ISSN: 1010-5182; 1878-4119; 1878-4119
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jcms.2022.07.002

The present aim was to estimate direct health care costs of patients suffering from post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN) and to compare the use of health care services, medications, and costs between temporary and persistent (>3 months) PTTN cohorts. A pre-existing clinical dataset of PTTN patients visiting a tertiary orofacial pain clinic in Belgium was utilized, including symptoms and quality of life measurements. Cost and resource utilization data were obtained by Belgium’s largest health insurance provider for a period of 5 years after onset. Data from 158 patients was analyzed. The average cost per patient in the first year after injury was €2353 (IQR 1426–4499) with an out-of-pocket expense of 25% of the total cost. Hospitalization and technical interventions were the main drivers of cumulative costs, followed by consultation costs. For each cost category, expenditure was significantly higher in patients with persistent PTTN than in those with temporary PTTN (median 5-year total costs in persistent PTTN patients yielded €8866 (IQR 4368–18191) versus €4432 (IQR 2156–9032) in temporary PTTN, p