title: Treatment of varicose ulcer of the lower limbs by surgery and Unna boot: savings for the Brazilian healthcare system.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To perform an analysis of the costs of treatment of varicose ulcers by radical surgery of varices and the use of Unna boot.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen outpatients were selected to receive treatment of varicose ulcers with radical surgery and Unna boot. The total cost of treatment was calculated (hospitalization, surgery, dressings, and outpatient's follow-up visits) and compared to the cost of clinical follow-up with daily simple dressing changes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The proposed treatment was on average 55.71% more economical than the management with daily dressings (approximately US$452.32 versus US$1,021.39).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radical varicose vein surgery associated with the use of the Unna boot proved meaningly less expensive for the public health system than clinical follow-up with daily dressings.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Sergio Quilici
authors.initials: SQ
authors.lastname: Belczak
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Hospital das Clínicas, Universidade de São Paulo - USP, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Vitor Cervantes
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Gornati
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Aun
authors.affiliation: Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein - HIAE, Sao Paulo, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Igor Rafael
authors.initials: IR
authors.lastname: Sincos
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, Hospital Geral de Carapicuíba, Carapicuíba, SP, BR.
authors.forename: Hélio
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fragoso