A prospective cost analysis following operative treatment of unstable ankle fractures: 30 patients followed for 1 year.
BACKGROUND
Ankle fractures remain one of the commonest injuries requiring operation. Quality of life and the overall costs associated with the treatment of such injuries are rarely reported. We did a pilot study to determine the cost of treating patients operatively with unstable ankle fractures and to measure the patients' quality of life (utility scores) over time.


METHODS
30 patients (17 men) were eligible and included in the study. They were on the average 52 (18-81) years old. All patients had type B Weber fractures (OTA 44B).


RESULTS
The mean utility score from the Health Utilities Index immediately after surgery was 0.4. At 12 months follow-up, this score had increased to 0.78. The cost was, on average, USD 2,143 per patient.


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings indicate that patients operated on for ankle fractures had significant gains in health at an acceptable cost. These results provide data for studies of larger sample size.
Bhandari
Mohit
M
Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, McMaster University, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main Street West, Room 2C3, Hamilton, Ontario, L8N 3Z5, Canada. bhandari@sympatico.ca
Sprague
Sheila
S
Ayeni
Olufemi R
OR
Hanson
Beate P
BP
Moro
Jaydeep K
JK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016512:Ankle Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005592:Fracture Fixation / Q000191:economics*; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery*; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011788:Quality of Life; D013997:Time Factors