Geriatric intertrochanteric hip fractures: an economic analysis

Hip fractures have a high economic and social cost to society. Rising healthcare costs, coupled with managed healthcare systems, have forced a close inspection of healthcare expenditures. To evaluate the impact of geriatric intertrochanteric hip fractures upon a hospital system, an economic cost-analysis was undertaken. An analysis was made of financial and hospital data of elderly patients who sustained an intertrochanteric hip fracture and subsequently underwent open reduction and internal fixation. Increasing patient age did not correlate with length of stay, overall hospital cost, or net hospital income. When costs were subdivided, there were no statistically significant differences relative to patient age for costs of pharmacy, radiology, respiratory therapy, or operating room supply. There were, however, statistically significant correlations between patient age and costs of the operating room, blood, and anesthesia. During the 36-month study period, a case manager was added to the orthopedic surgical team. There was a trend toward decreased length of stay after the addition of the case manager, but the overall cost of patient care was not affected.