title: Trends in treatment of anterior cruciate ligament injuries of the knee in the public and private healthcare systems of Brazil.
abstract: CONTEXT AND OBJECTIVE Orthopedic surgery implies high costs for both public and private healthcare. The aim of this study was to better understand the differences between the public and private sectors regarding treatment of a damaged anterior cruciate ligament, which is a common knee injury. DESIGN AND SETTING Descriptive cross-sectional study conducted during the Brazilian Orthopedics Congress in Brasília. METHODS We applied questionnaires during the 2010 Brazilian Orthopedics Congress, with participation by 241 knee surgeons from 24 Brazilian states. This was followed by statistical analysis on the data that were obtained. RESULTS The orthopedic surgeons who were evaluated used different approaches and treatment options in different Brazilian states, comparing between the public and private systems. CONCLUSION Both in the public and in the private systems in Brazil, because of non-medical issues surrounding the treatment, the best medical decision is not always made. This may be harmful both to patients and to physicians.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Diego Costa
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Astur
authors.forename: Rodrigo Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Batista
authors.forename: Arliani
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gustavo
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cohen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000070598:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries; D059549:Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction / Q000379:methods / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000639:trends*; D001938:Brazil; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000639:trends*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017149:Private Sector / Q000639:trends*; D017150:Public Sector / Q000639:trends*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome