Cost induced by hip fractures
Azhar, A.; Lim, C.; Kelly, E.; O'Rourke, K.; Dudeney, S.; Hurson, B.; Quinlan, W.
Irish Medical Journal 101(7): 213-215
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0332-3102 PMID: 18807812 Document Number: 626137
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.