[Marginal costs of total hip replacement--experiences from a county hospital department]

The marginal cost of total hip replacement was analysed at a county hospital in Denmark. We found that, with correction for inflation the price of a hip prosthesis has remained stable. In addition, we found that the cost of total hip replacement at a public hospital is considerably lower than the price listed at private hospitals in Denmark. We therefore conclude, that from an economic viewpoint it would be better to expand the existing capacity at public hospitals than that the public health service should pay for treatment of patients at private hospitals.