title: [Early functional conservative therapy of fresh fibular capsular ligament rupture from the socioeconomic viewpoint].
abstract: The expected direct and indirect costs following a fresh fibular rupture of the capsular ligament, and hence the socioeconomic burden on the patient, was investigated by a prospective randomised study comprising 120 males and females between 18 and 45 years of age. A comparison of three different conservative treatment methods A (immobilisation in a plaster cast for three weeks, followed by mobilisation with the aircast splint), B (mobilisation with the aircast splint) and C (Unna's paste dressing for two weeks with subsequent tape dressings and in each case immediate mobilisation) showed a significantly better stability after 6 months in the groups B (2.6 +/- 2.3) and C (3.6 +/- 3.8) than in A (4.8 +/- 3.5). The direct subsequent costs were also significantly lower in the groups B (DM 175.-) and C (DM 206.-) than in A (DM 340,-). Taking an average daily hospital care fee of DM 319.- (1991 in West Germany) as basis, the direct costs sequential to early functional treatment are the lowest also in comparison with surgical treatment in a hospital. The indirect sequential costs due to loss of working hours are mainly dependent on professionally conditioned physical stress but increase with the period of immobilisation after a fresh fibular rupture of the capsular ligament.
authors: Orthopádische Universitätsklinik Heidelberg.
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Sommer
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Schreiber
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy*; D001458:Bandages / Q000191:economics; D002370:Casts, Surgical / Q000191:economics; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000293:injuries*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012421:Rupture; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013165:Splints / Q000191:economics
vernacular_title: Die früh-funktionelle konservative Therapie der frischen fibularen Kapsel-Band-Ruptur aus sozial-ökonomischer Sicht.