[Treatment costs in initially underestimated infections of the hand].
Summary. Infections that develop as a complication of minor injuries to the hand, frequently are underestimated by the patient or by the physician initially consulted. Between 1990 and 2000, we have treated 172 in-patients as a result of this underestimation. In a retrospective study we have tried to evaluate the economic consequences. According to our results, treatment costs of 210,000 D-Mark could have been saved, if adequate treatment had been initiated on time.
Reichert
B
B
Sektion Plastische Chirurgie, Handchirurgie, Intensiveinheit für Schwerbrandverletzte der Medizinischen Universität zu Lübeck. Bert.Reichert@medinf.mu-luebeck.de
Zöphel
O
O
Möller
M
M
Mailänder
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006230:Hand Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery
Behandlungskosten durch unterschätzte Handinfektionen.