One hundred consecutive cases of flap lacerations of the leg in ageing patients.
OBJECTIVE
To define the cost of inpatient treatment of flap laceration to the leg in ageing patients.


METHODS
One hundred consecutive admissions over a 19 month period were reviewed retrospectively.


RESULTS
The mean age of flap laceration of the leg patients was 77.5 years (50-93). The mean bed stay was 14.53 days (1-36). Most patients (84%) were treated with debridement and split skin grafting. The total cost of treatment was $551,390.00. The mean delay before surgery was 41.2 hours. 92% of patients returned to the same preoperative social circumstances.


CONCLUSIONS
Flap laceration of the leg is expensive to treat in hospital. There are a number of strategies in which bed stay and costs can be reduced. These include early and aggressive surgery, the use of meshed skin graft, early mobilisation and early involvement of social support services.
Poole
G H
GH
Middlemore Hospital, Otahuhu Auckland.
Mills
S M
SM
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001510:Bed Rest; D005260:Female; D017722:Hospital Charges / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery* / Q000628:therapy; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand; D011312:Pressure; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016038:Skin Transplantation / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D013526:Surgical Mesh