Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment
Background:. Fracture-related infections (FRIs) pose significant clinical and economic challenges in trauma surgery. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, the economic burden of managing FRIs remains substantial. However, cost analyses are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to anal...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer
2025-09-01
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| Series: | JBJS Open Access |
| Online Access: | http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00133 |
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| author | Nike Walter, MD Ines Neubauer, MD Susanne Baertl, MD Volker Alt, MD Markus Rupp, MD |
| author_facet | Nike Walter, MD Ines Neubauer, MD Susanne Baertl, MD Volker Alt, MD Markus Rupp, MD |
| author_sort | Nike Walter, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:. Fracture-related infections (FRIs) pose significant clinical and economic challenges in trauma surgery. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, the economic burden of managing FRIs remains substantial. However, cost analyses are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the direct healthcare costs associated with FRI treatment compared with initial fracture treatment across various fracture types in a level 1 trauma center in Germany.
Methods:. A retrospective analysis of 95 patients treated for fractures and FRIs between 2013 and 2020 was conducted. Patients were categorized based on the fracture location: femur, tibia, ankle, and foot. Data collected included fracture characteristics, and costs related to both initial fracture treatment and FRI management. Costs were analyzed using diagnosis-related group (DRG) reimbursement data. The mean DRG reimbursement for initial fracture treatment and FRI treatment was compared to determine the economic impact of FRIs.
Results:. The study revealed significant increases in costs for FRI treatment across all fracture types. For femur fractures, the mean reimbursement for initial treatment was €17,617.66, while FRI treatment costs were €31,731.49, resulting in a difference of €14,113.83 and a 1.8-fold increase in costs. Tibia fractures showed an increase from €10,327.70 to €28,024.38 (difference of €17,696.68, 2.7-fold increase of costs). Ankle fractures had a cost increase from €3,790.38 to €17,940.90 (difference of €14,150.52, 4.7-fold increase of costs), and foot fractures showed an increase from €6,557.95 to €23,272.48 (difference of €16,714.53, 3.5-fold increase of costs).
Conclusions:. The costs for FRI treatment are substantially higher than those for initial fracture management across all fracture types studied. These findings emphasize the need for effective preventive measures and efficient management protocols to reduce the incidence and financial impact of FRIs.
Level of Evidence:. Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d52bc0f8df3a41a79faa3d6db2d37681 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2472-7245 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JBJS Open Access |
| spelling | doaj-art-d52bc0f8df3a41a79faa3d6db2d376812025-08-26T03:24:54ZengWolters KluwerJBJS Open Access2472-72452025-09-0110310.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00133JBJSOA2400133Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection TreatmentNike Walter, MD0Ines Neubauer, MD1Susanne Baertl, MD2Volker Alt, MD3Markus Rupp, MD41 Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg1 Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg1 Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg1 Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, Regensburg1 Department for Trauma Surgery, University Hospital Regensburg, RegensburgBackground:. Fracture-related infections (FRIs) pose significant clinical and economic challenges in trauma surgery. Despite advancements in treatment modalities, the economic burden of managing FRIs remains substantial. However, cost analyses are scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze the direct healthcare costs associated with FRI treatment compared with initial fracture treatment across various fracture types in a level 1 trauma center in Germany. Methods:. A retrospective analysis of 95 patients treated for fractures and FRIs between 2013 and 2020 was conducted. Patients were categorized based on the fracture location: femur, tibia, ankle, and foot. Data collected included fracture characteristics, and costs related to both initial fracture treatment and FRI management. Costs were analyzed using diagnosis-related group (DRG) reimbursement data. The mean DRG reimbursement for initial fracture treatment and FRI treatment was compared to determine the economic impact of FRIs. Results:. The study revealed significant increases in costs for FRI treatment across all fracture types. For femur fractures, the mean reimbursement for initial treatment was €17,617.66, while FRI treatment costs were €31,731.49, resulting in a difference of €14,113.83 and a 1.8-fold increase in costs. Tibia fractures showed an increase from €10,327.70 to €28,024.38 (difference of €17,696.68, 2.7-fold increase of costs). Ankle fractures had a cost increase from €3,790.38 to €17,940.90 (difference of €14,150.52, 4.7-fold increase of costs), and foot fractures showed an increase from €6,557.95 to €23,272.48 (difference of €16,714.53, 3.5-fold increase of costs). Conclusions:. The costs for FRI treatment are substantially higher than those for initial fracture management across all fracture types studied. These findings emphasize the need for effective preventive measures and efficient management protocols to reduce the incidence and financial impact of FRIs. Level of Evidence:. Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00133 |
| spellingShingle | Nike Walter, MD Ines Neubauer, MD Susanne Baertl, MD Volker Alt, MD Markus Rupp, MD Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment JBJS Open Access |
| title | Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment |
| title_full | Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment |
| title_fullStr | Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment |
| title_full_unstemmed | Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment |
| title_short | Direct Healthcare Cost of Fracture-related Infection Treatment |
| title_sort | direct healthcare cost of fracture related infection treatment |
| url | http://journals.lww.com/jbjsoa/fulltext/10.2106/JBJS.OA.24.00133 |
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