Introduction: In this paper we investigate the possible connection between socioeconomic status as demarcated by employment and in-surance status and consumption of healthcare resources in spine surgery patients. Methods: The clinical records of 1599 spine surgery pa-tients counted from 2008-2009 were reviewed. The largest groups of patients belonged to MS-DRG 460 (N = 585) and to MS-DRG 473 (N = 700). These two MS-DRG patient groups were used as the study cohort representing patients who, by definition, did not have serious comor-bidities or complications. Results: Unemployed non-cervical patients tended to stay on average 1.8 days longer in hospital and had on average $5800 higher hospital charges. No major differ-ences were noted in length of stay and hospital cost between government and private insurance patients. However, self-pay non-cervical fusion patients had notable increases in length of stay and hospital cost, especially in the >39 and <60 age group with the difference in length of stay amounting to 5 days and in hospital charges to $10,000. Univariate analysis with DRG (460 or 473) as a covariate showed significant impact from employment status on length of stay (F = 4.259, P = 0.014) and less significant impact from payor category on hospital charges (F = 2.229, P = 0.064) in the economically-productive 40 -59 age group. Conclusions: In general, no increase in hospital resource consumption was noted except among self-pay patients, the same group seemingly least able to afford expensive healthcare.
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