Post-discharge healthcare utilization and costs in musculoskeletal surgery patients: A cohort study in Korea

Spinal and shoulder disorders, metropolitan residence, obesity, multimorbidity, heavy inpatient and outpatient use during the first post-discharge year, and frequent TKM sessions, albeit marginally, jointly predicted the highest second-year expenditures. These findings highlight the value of early risk stratification and tightly coordinated Western-and-traditional care pathways that facilitate the shift from structural repair to functional restoration. From a policy perspective, these results suggest the need for integrated post-discharge care models and targeted financial support strategies to reduce avoidable costs and enhance equity in musculoskeletal rehabilitation.