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Cost analysis of hip fracture treatment among the elderly for the public health services: a 1-year prospective study in 106 consecutive patients

Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery volume 123, pages 551–554 (2003)Cite this article

Abstract

Introduction

The most serious complication resulting from osteoporosis is fracture of the hip. This injury often has serious consequences for the patient, because it is linked to a considerable level of mortality and deterioration of functional capacity.

Materials and methods

The data from 106 consecutive patients with a hip fracture were registered for 1 year following the fracture by trained nurses in an area of six municipalities and 92,500 inhabitants. The total costs of these patients were calculated per patient, including the costs of acute and post-acute care and rehabilitation, home assistance and home care, outpatient visits, assistive devices, transportation, medication, and forensic autopsies as well as the patients' own share of the treatment costs. The costs were calculated according to the 2003 price level.

Results

The average costs during the first post-fracture year were around €14,410. Slightly less than one-fourth of these costs was caused by acute care. If a previously home-dwelling patient had to be admitted to permanent institutional care after the fracture, the average costs rose to €35,700. The centralisation of post-acute rehabilitation lowered the amount of the total costs.

Conclusion

The average 1-year total costs of a patient with a hip fracture were €14,410. About one-fourth of the costs were caused by acute care. The centralisation of post-acute rehabilitation was profitable.

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Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the Medical Research Fund of Kymenlaakso Health Care District, the Provincial State Office of Southern Finland, the Kymi Ltd Foundation, the Medical Society of Kouvola Region and the Finnish Nursing Education Foundation for the financial support for this study.

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Affiliations

  1. Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, Mannerheimintie 172, PO Box 41, 00014 , Helsinki, Finland

    Ilona Nurmi

  2. Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Kuusankoski Regional Hospital, 45750, Kuusankoski, Finland

    Arja Narinen, Peter Lüthje & Salla Tanninen

  3. Sairaalankuja 2, 45750, Kuusankoski, Finland

    Ilona Nurmi

Authors
  1. Ilona Nurmi
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  2. Arja Narinen
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  3. Peter Lüthje
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  4. Salla Tanninen
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Correspondence to Ilona Nurmi.

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Nurmi, I., Narinen, A., Lüthje, P. et al. Cost analysis of hip fracture treatment among the elderly for the public health services: a 1-year prospective study in 106 consecutive patients. Arch Orthop Trauma Surg 123, 551–554 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-003-0583-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00402-003-0583-z

Keywords

  • Hip fracture
  • Rehabilitation
  • Cost analysis