Rehabilitation cost share and cost analysis of traumatic hand injuries: Our single-center results

This study aims to evaluate the cost expenses and rehabilitation share of hand and/or wrist injuries and to contribute to the development of health and economic policies.

A total of 59 patients (55 males, 4 females; mean age: 39.1±11.3 years; range, 20 to 64 years) who presented with hand and/or wrist injuries between January 2015 and December 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Demographic data, hand injury information, and the Modified Hand Injury Severity Scores (MHISS) were retrieved from the patient file system. The cost analysis with direct and indirect costs was performed.

According to the MHISS, 27.1% of patients had a minor injury, 23.7% had a moderate injury, 18.6% had a severe injury, and 30.5% had a major injury. The mean direct cost of the patients was $726.00±641.87 and the total cost of the indirect cost was $2,776.93±1,619.00. The mean day-off time was 125±68.62 days. Indirect costs accounted for 79% of the total cost. The mean cost of rehabilitation was $150.18±86.88. Rehabilitation costs accounted for 4% of the total cost. There was a positive correlation between the MHISS and direct, indirect and total cost, but not between the MHISS and rehabilitation cost.

The proportion of the share allocated to rehabilitation expenditures, which is the subunit of direct cost, is low and not related to the injury severity. The data obtained from the study contributed to the creation of evidence-based health and economic policies. We believe that these data also contribute to the planning of rehabilitation services according to the severity of injury which would improve the quality of life and return to work.