The cost of post-burn scarring

Area of Science:

• Medical Economics
• Burn Surgery
• Scar Management

Background:

• Deep burns frequently result in scarring and contractures, with limited data on associated treatment costs.
• Burn sequelae represent a significant challenge in patient recovery and healthcare resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze and quantify the treatment costs associated with burn sequelae, particularly scarring.
• To identify factors contributing to increased healthcare expenditure in post-burn patients.

Main Methods:

• Utilized German-DRG (Diagnosis Related Groups) data from the Burn Centre Lower Saxony for in-patient treatment cost analysis.
• Employed DRG-related T95 coding to identify burn-associated sequelae.
• Collected data on scar occurrence, reconstructive surgery, and sick leave via questionnaires.

Main Results:

• 44.6% of patients reported post-burn scarring, with 31% requiring surgical intervention.
• Scarred patients exhibited a significantly higher risk of readmission (p=0.0002) and incurred higher costs for pressure garments (p=0.04).
• Treatment costs for scarred patients were 5.6 times higher than for non-scarred patients, primarily due to multiple surgical interventions.

Conclusions:

• Burn scarring leads to substantially higher treatment costs compared to other burn sequelae.
• Optimal treatment in specialized centers and further research into anti-scarring therapies are essential for cost reduction and improved patient outcomes.