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Cost analysis of a major burn
1University of Auckland School of Medicine.
The New Zealand Medical Journal
|November 27, 1991
Summary
Managing major burn injuries (over 30% total body surface area) is costly, averaging $647 daily per patient. Early interventions like grafting and regional skin banks could reduce burn treatment expenses.
Area of Science:
- Trauma Surgery
- Burn Management
- Health Economics
Background:
- Major burn injuries (exceeding 30% total body surface area) necessitate extensive and costly inpatient management.
- Accurate cost estimation is crucial for resource allocation and healthcare planning in burn care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To retrospectively analyze the inpatient management costs of major burn patients.
- To identify potential strategies for reducing the financial burden of severe burn treatment.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of 26 patients with major burns (≥30% total body surface area) admitted between January 1986 and July 1989.
- Estimation of total inpatient management costs using hospital charges and assumed values.
- Calculation of cost per patient per day and cost per percentage of burn area.
Main Results:
- Twenty survivors experienced a mean initial hospital stay of 68.7 days.
- The estimated cost ranged from $37,077 to $40,702 (1989 values) and $46,069 (1991 values).
- Average costs were $647 per patient per day or $927 per % burn.
Conclusions:
- Inpatient management of major burns represents a significant financial investment.
- Recommendations for cost reduction include earlier surgical excision and grafting.
- Establishing regional skin banks and keratinocyte culture facilities, alongside antibiotic prescribing guidelines, may improve outcomes and reduce costs.