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Cost induced by hip fractures
1Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, St Vincent's University Hospital, Elm Park, Dublin. armughanazhar@hotmail.com
Insights
Hip fractures are a significant financial burden in Ireland, costing an average of €9,236 per patient. Inpatient treatment costs, largely driven by length of hospital stay, highlight the economic impact of these injuries in the elderly.
Area of Science:
- Geriatric Medicine
- Health Economics
- Orthopedic Surgery
Background:
- Hip fractures are the most prevalent fracture type in the elderly.
- Treating hip fractures poses a substantial financial challenge to healthcare systems.
- Recent data on hospital costs for hip fractures in the Republic of Ireland is lacking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the current medical expenditure for hip fractures during acute hospitalization.
- To analyze the cost components associated with hip fracture treatment.
- To assess the economic impact of hip fractures in the Irish healthcare context.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive analysis of 143 patients aged over 60 admitted with hip fractures.
- Calculation of individual costs for surgery (implants, theatre), laboratory, radiology, physiotherapy, and ward care.
- Data collected from a major university hospital during 2005.
Main Results:
- The mean total hospital expenditure per patient was €9,236.01.
- Ward costs constituted the largest proportion (55.33%), followed by operative costs (39.82%).
- Investigations accounted for a smaller portion of the total cost (4.83%).
Conclusions:
- Hip fractures represent a major economic burden due to inpatient treatment costs.
- The length of hospital stay is a primary driver of the overall expenditure.
- This study provides crucial data on the financial impact of hip fractures in Ireland.
Abstract:
Hip fracture is the most common fracture in the elderly population. Treating hip fractures is a major burden on the Irish Health system. There is no recent Republic of Ireland study detailing hospital costs for such injuries. A comprehensive analysis of 143 patients admitted with a hip fracture was performed to determine current medical expenditure incurred during acute hospitalization for hip fractures during 2005 in a major university hospital. Costs associated with surgery (implant & theatre costs), laboratory, radiology, physiotherapy and ward were calculated on individual basis. All the hip fractures were above 60 years of age (mean 82 years); average stay in the hospital was 11 days. The mean total hospital expenditure per patient was Euro 9236.01 of which ward costs contributed 55.33%, operative costs 39.82% and investigations 4.83%. The result clearly show that hip fractures have a major economic impact arising from the inpatient treatment, most of which relate to length of hospital stay.
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