title: Delayed primary wound closure in upper extremity soft tissue infections.
abstract: Health care costs for inpatient care have been escalating. Homeless and indigent patients may be unable to have access to clean toilet facilities to perform adequate wound care. Evaluation of delayed primary closure of upper extremity soft tissue infections after incision and drainage in 34 patients was done. Patients were discharged at an average of 8.3 days (range, 5-21 days). This is 11 days less than the reported average granulation time for wounds to heal. No patient required readmission for surgery, wound care, or intravenous antibiotics. The authors' institution charges a rate of $2800 per patient day. A potential savings of $1,047,200 was realized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Los Angeles County/University of Southern California School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Schnall
authors.forename: V D
authors.initials: VD
authors.lastname: Thommen
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Allari
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Holtom
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002985:Clinical Protocols; D005260:Female; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018461:Soft Tissue Infections / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000601:surgery; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000601:surgery