[Economic aspects of surgical wound therapies].
BACKGROUND
Health care insurers in Germany pay 5 billion Euros annually in materials alone for pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and ulcus cruris. With such figures it is necessary to consider, economic aspects of treatment.


METHODS
Due to the lack of evidence-based data on wound treatment costs, we investigated available studies for an effect on treatment costs when standard moist wound therapy was compared with alternative methods. Suited medical parameters are calculated and compared. Daily costs and length of treatment are correlated and compared.


RESULTS
Published data show that alternative wound therapies may lead to an earlier wound closure, fewer complications, and reduction in hospital admissions and length of stay. Despite higher daily costs, some alternative wound therapies turn out to be more cost effective, when all economical factors are considered. In this respect a move towards alternative wound therapies could possibly lead to major savings.


CONCLUSIONS
At present there is insufficient evidence to prove the efficacy of various treatment modalities for chronic wounds. This is due to numerous factors such as comorbidities and frequent multimorbidity. Nevertheless critical evaluation of one innovative treatment alone already uncovered an enormous potential for savings in a wider economic context, despite the comparatively higher cost of a single treatment. It is of utmost importance that conservative wound care become firmly embedded in surgical concepts.
Horch
R E
RE
Plastische und Handchirurgische Klinik, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstrasse 12, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland. Raymund.horch@uk-erlangen.de
Nord
D
D
Augustin
M
M
Germann
G
G
Leffler
M
M
Dragu
A
A
D002056:Burns / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003646:Debridement / Q000191:economics; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000191:economics; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000191:economics*; D054843:Negative-Pressure Wound Therapy / Q000191:economics; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery; D012086:Reoperation; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000191:economics / Q000601:surgery; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000191:economics* / Q000601:surgery*