title: Higher rate of compensation after surgical treatment versus conservative treatment for acute Achilles tendon rupture.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Acute Achilles tendon rupture (ATR) can be treated either surgically or non-surgically. High-quality meta-analyses show a lower re-rupture rate, but a higher overall complication rate among surgically treated patients. No studies have evaluated the socio-economic impact of different complications. The aim of this study was to investigate: 1) the socio-economic impact of complications after ATR through the utilisation of the Danish Patient Insurance Association (DPIA) database, 2) correlations between treatment and complications.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 324 patients with ATR reported in the period from 1992 to 2010 in the DPIA database were identified and patient records were reviewed manually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The compensation awarded for the 18-year period totalled 18,147,202 DKK with 41% of patient claims being recognised. Out of 180 surgically treated patients, 79 received a total compensation of 14,051,377 DKK, median 47,637 (range: 5,000-3,577,043). Of 114 non-surgically treated patients, 40 received 3,715,224 DKK in compensation, with a median amount of 35,788 DKK (range: 5,000-830,073).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Compensation after surgical treatment was 3.8 times higher than compensation after non-surgical treatment. It is noteworthy that 34.5% of patients had an overlooked diagnosis which underlines the importance of a correct primary diagnosis.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  not relevant.
authors: Ortopædkirurgisk Afdeling 333, Kettegård Allé 30, Afdeling 333, 2650 Hvidovre, Denmark. magnus.sveen@gmail.com.
authors: Thor-Magnus
authors: TM
authors: Sveen
authors: Anders
authors: A
authors: Troelsen
authors: Kristoffer Weisskirchner
authors: KW
authors: Barfod
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries*; D003718:Denmark; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007344:Insurance Claim Reporting / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012421:Rupture / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000628:therapy; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome