Cost-effectiveness of Finger Replantation Compared With Revision Amputation.

Importance: Traumatic digit amputation is the most common type of amputation injury, but the cost-effectiveness of its treatments is unknown. Objective: To assess the cost-effectiveness of finger replantation compared with revision amputation. Design, Setting, and Participants: This economic evaluation was conducted using data from the Finger Replantation and Amputation Challenges in Assessing Impairment, Satisfaction, and Effectiveness (FRANCHISE), a retrospective, multicenter cohort study at 19 centers in the United States and Asia that enrolled participants from August 1, 2016, to April 12, 2018. Model variables were based on the FRANCHISE database, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and published literature. A total of 257 participants with unilateral traumatic finger amputations treated with revision amputation or replantation distal to the metacarpophalangeal joint and at least 1 year of follow-up after treatment were included in the analysis. Exposures: Revision amputation or replantation of traumatic finger amputations. Main Outcomes and Measures: Main outcome measures were quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs), total costs (in US dollars), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs). A willingness-to-pay threshold of $100 000 per QALY was used to assess cost-effectiveness. Results: Of the 257 study participants (mean [SD] age, 46.7 [15.9] years; 221 [86.0%] male), 178 underwent finger replantation and 79 underwent revision amputation. In a base case of a 46.7-year-old patient, replantation was associated with QALY gains of 0.30 (95% credible interval [CrI], -0.72 to 1.38) for single-finger (not thumb), 0.39 (95% CrI, -1.00 to 1.90) for thumb, 1.69 (95% CrI, -0.13 to 3.76) for multifinger excluding thumb, and 1.27 (95% CrI, -2.21 to 5.04) for multifinger including thumb injury patterns. Corresponding ICERs for replantation compared with revision amputation were $99 157 per QALY for single-finger (not thumb), $66 278 per QALY for thumb, $18 388 per QALY for multifinger excluding thumb, and $21 528 per QALY for multifinger including thumb injury patterns. Sensitivity analysis revealed that age at time of injury, life expectancy, postinjury utility, wages, and time off work for recovery had the strongest associations with cost-effectiveness. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis revealed the following chances of replantation being cost-effective: 47% in single-finger (not thumb), 52% in thumb, 78% in multifinger excluding thumb, and 64% in multifinger including thumb injury patterns. Conclusions and Relevance: With proper patient selection, replantation of all finger amputation patterns, whether single-finger or multifinger injuries, may be cost-effective compared with revision amputation. Multifinger replantations had a higher probability of being cost-effective than single-finger replantations. Cost-effectiveness may depend on injury pattern and patient factors and thus appears to be important for consideration when patients and surgeons are deciding whether to replant or amputate.

Trends in burden of work-related upper limb amputation in South Korea, 2004-2013: a nationwide retrospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to measure the burden of work-related upper limb amputation in Korea over a 10-year period and assess its trend. DESIGN: Ecological study. SETTING: National level data in Korea between 2004 and 2013. PARTICIPANTS: 49 535 subjects who claimed Korea industrial accident compensation insurance due to upper limb amputation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were calculated by sex, age and the site of amputation using annual incidence. RESULTS: The burden of work-related upper limb amputations in Korea reached its peak in 2007 and decreased thereafter. Males showed a higher burden of disease. Finger amputations showed a decreasing trend from 2007, whereas arm amputations continued to show an increasing trend. An increasing trend was found among participants older than 50 years. CONCLUSIONS: The decrease in the burden of finger amputations may be attributable to the lower incidence as a result of policy efforts. The increase in the burden of arm amputations was particularly noticeable among the elderly population over 50 years old. This could be attributable to the high proportion of the elderly population working in the manufacturing sector and the lack of policy efforts regarding major amputations in Korea. Future regulatory efforts are needed to prevent amputations.

Experience of nail bed injuries at a tertiary hand trauma unit: a 12-month review and cost analysis.

The aim of this study was to analyse the management of nail bed injuries from a clinical and economic perspective. We carried out a retrospective analysis of nail bed injuries treated operatively at a tertiary Plastic Surgery Hand Trauma Unit during 2016. The National Schedule of Reference Costs (2015-2016) was used to estimate the costs of treating 630 patients. The most common mechanism was a crush injury in a door (33%). Fifty-five per cent of patients had an associated tuft fracture. The minimum cost per annum for patients treated for nail bed injuries in our unit was calculated to be £511,560 (€573,362; US$666,664). Many nail bed injuries are preventable and because they present a very high financial burden on the National Health Service, targeted prevention strategies should be considered. Level of evidence: IV.

Trends in Pediatric Traumatic Upper Extremity Amputations.

Background: Traumatic upper extremity amputation in a child can be a life-altering injury, yet little is known about the epidemiology or health care costs of these injuries. In this study, using the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) Kids' Inpatient Database (KID), we assess these trends to learn about the risk factors and health care costs of these injuries. Methods: Using the HCUP KID from 1997 to 2012, patients aged 20 years old or younger with upper extremity traumatic amputations were identified. National estimates of incidence, demographics, costs, hospital factors, patient factors, and mechanisms of injury were assessed. Results: Between 1997 and 2012, 6130 cases of traumatic upper extremity amputation occurred in children. This resulted in a $166 million cost to the health care system. Males are 3.4 times more likely to be affected by amputation than females. The most common age group to suffer amputation is in older children, aged 15 to 19 years old. The frequency of amputation has declined 41% from 1997 to 2012. The overwhelming majority of amputations (92.54%) involved digits. Conclusions: Pediatric traumatic amputations of the upper extremity are a significant contribution to health care spending. Interventions and educational campaigns can be targeted based on national trends to prevent these costly injuries.

Fingertip Injuries in Children: Epidemiology, Financial Burden, and Implications for Prevention.

BACKGROUND: Although fingertip injuries are common, there is limited literature on the epidemiology and hospital charges for fingertip injuries in children. This descriptive study reports the clinical features of and hospital charges for fingertip injuries in a large pediatric population treated at a tertiary medical center. METHODS: Our hospital database was queried using International Classification of Diseases, Revision 9 (ICD-9) codes, and medical records were reviewed. Frequency statistics were generated for 1807 patients with fingertip injuries who presented to the emergency department (ED) at Boston Children's Hospital (BCH) between 2005 and 2011. Billing records were analyzed for financial data. RESULTS: A total of 1807 patients were identified for this study; 59% were male, and the mean age at time of injury was 8 years. Most commonly, injuries occurred when a finger was crushed (n = 831, 46%) in a door or window. Average length of stay in the ED was 3 hours 45 minutes, 25% of cases needed surgery, and, on average, patients had more than 1 follow-up appointment. About one-third of patients were referred from outside institutions. The average ED charge for fingertip injuries was $1195 in 2014, which would amount to about $320 430 each year (in 2014 dollars) for fingertip injuries presenting to BCH. CONCLUSION: Fingertip injuries in children are common and result in significant burden, yet are mostly preventable. Most injuries occur at home in a door or window. Although these patients generally heal well, fingertip injuries pose a health, time, and financial burden. Increased awareness and education may help to avoid these injuries.

Cost effective cosmetic prosthesis for lost digits.

Leprosy causes nerve damage which leads to repeated injuries or ulcers causing the loss or absorption of digits. The loss of digits is also common in traumatic injuries. Irrespective of the etiology, the loss of a finger has a considerable negative functional and psychological impact on an individual. In order to solve these problems, prostheses are provided to patients. This short report demonstrates the advantages of using liquid latex in making a low cost cosmetic prosthesis. The possibility of using latex material offers a practical alternative where silicone prosthesis is not affordable.

Reducing the risk of injury from table saw use: the potential benefits and costs of automatic protection.

The use of table saws in the United States is associated with approximately 28,000 emergency department (ED) visits and 2,000 cases of finger amputation per year. This article provides a quantitative estimate of the economic benefits of automatic protection systems that could be designed into new table saw products. Benefits are defined as reduced health-care costs, enhanced production at work, and diminished pain and suffering. The present value of the benefits of automatic protection over the life of the table saw are interpreted as the switch-point cost value, the maximum investment in automatic protection that can be justified by benefit-cost comparison. Using two alternative methods for monetizing pain and suffering, the study finds switch-point cost values of $753 and $561 per saw. These point estimates are sensitive to the values of inputs, especially the average cost of injury. The various switch-point cost values are substantially higher than rough estimates of the incremental cost of automatic protection systems. Uncertainties and future research needs are discussed.

Economic analysis of revision amputation and replantation treatment of finger amputation injuries.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to perform a cost-utility analysis to compare revision amputation and replantation treatment of finger amputation injuries across a spectrum of injury scenarios. METHODS: The study was conducted from the societal perspective. Decision tree models were created for the reference case (two-finger amputation injury) and seven additional injury scenarios for comparison. Inputs included cost, quality of life, and probability of each health state. A Web-based time trade-off survey was created to determine quality-adjusted life-years for health states; 685 nationally representative adult community members were invited to participate in the survey. Overall cost and quality-adjusted life-years for revision amputation and replantation were calculated for each decision tree. An incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was calculated if a treatment was more costly but more effective. RESULTS: The authors had a 64 percent response rate (n = 437). Replantation treatment had greater costs and quality-adjusted life-years compared with revision amputation in all injury scenarios. Replantation of single-digit injuries had the highest incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($136,400 per quality-adjusted life-year gained). Replantation of three- and four-digit amputation injuries had relatively low cost-to-benefit ratios ($27,100 and $23,800 per quality-adjusted life-year, respectively). Replantation for distal thumb amputation had a relatively low incremental cost-effectiveness ratio ($26,300 per quality-adjusted life-year) compared with replantation of nonthumb distal amputations ($60,200 per quality-adjusted life-year). CONCLUSIONS: The relative cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained with replantation treatment varied greatly among the injury scenarios. Situations in which indications for replantation are debated had higher cost per quality-adjusted life-year gained. This study highlights variability in value for replantation among different injury scenarios.

[Economic profit of different injuries in a centre for hand surgery - replantation vs. amputation]. / Ökonomischer Profit von Fingerverletzungen in einem handchirurgischen Zentrum - Replantation vs. Amputation.

INTRODUCTION: The Institute for Reimbursements in Hospital (InEK) annually provides an updated DRG system to ensure the medical service providers with a cost-covering remunera-tion. However, the underlying cost data are often opaque and disclosure of the basis of calculation does not take place. On the basis of cost and revenue data from our clinic between 2010 and 2012, a profit statement for amputations and replantation of one or more fingers was employed and compared with the nationwide data of the calculation clinics. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Inpatient days, the revenue and the costs incurred in our clinic based on the cost matrix of InEK costing manual [4] were determined for amputation (DRG X05B), replantation of one (DRG X07B) and several fingers (DRG X07A). The profit was calculated as the difference between revenues and costs. Further-more, a comparison of our data with the nationwide data of InEK was applied. RESULTS: For each of the 3 DRGs the actual costs in our clinic were higher than the costs generated by InEK. Only amputation appeared profitable, while all limb-preserving interventions were associated with losses for our hospital. There was a clear discrepancy between the data of cost of InEK GmbH to the data of our clinic. CONCLUSION: In order not to create any monetary disincentives at the expense of quality of care of individual patients, a cost-covering patient care for all case groups mentioned above should be ensured. The general distrust in the InEK's data that results from such a discrepancy in the cost data can only be rebutted by increasing transparency and disclosure of the calculation basis.

Finger tourniquets: two safe and cost effective techniques and a discussion of the literature.

Finger tourniquets are used in a variety of operative procedures in both the trauma and elective setting. A wide range of methods are used in clinical practise as there is no standardised method. Many of the methods in use have significant drawbacks such as the inability to exsanguinate the digit or the more concerning problem of inadvertently leaving the tourniquet on the digit on completion of the procedure. We discuss two techniques that are quick, cheap and easy that do not have these drawbacks. There is a brief discussion of the literature assessing the various attributes of published methods. We feel that the adoption of these methods could result in easier and safer finger exsanguination and haemostasis.

Work-related injuries involving a hand or fingers among union carpenters in Washington State, 1989 to 2008.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated work-related injuries involving a hand or fingers and associated costs among a cohort of 24,830 carpenters between 1989 and 2008. METHODS: Injury rates and rate ratios were calculated by using Poisson regression to explore higher risk on the basis of age, sex, time in the union, predominant work, and calendar time. Negative binomial regression was used to model dollars paid per claim after adjustment for inflation and discounting. RESULTS: Hand injuries accounted for 21.1% of reported injuries and 9.5% of paid lost time injuries. Older carpenters had proportionately more amputations, fractures, and multiple injuries, but their rates of these more severe injuries were not higher. Costs exceeded $21 million, a cost burden of $0.11 per hour worked. CONCLUSIONS: Older carpenters' higher proportion of serious injuries in the absence of higher rates likely reflects age-related reporting differences.

Cost analysis and related factors in patients with traumatic hand injury.

The aim of this study was to measure the direct and indirect costs and factors influencing these costs in patients presenting following traumatic hand injury. We assessed patients aged 18-65 years who were in work. Hand injury severity and functional status were assessed. Direct costs, including medical care expenses, and indirect costs, including lost productivity, were calculated. Seventy-nine patients of a mean age of 32 years were included. The mean direct cost for each patient was $1772 (47% of total cost), and the indirect cost was $1891 (53% of total cost). Injury severity, time to return to work, and hospitalization time were the main parameters of increased total cost in a linear regression analysis.

Digital nerve injuries: epidemiology, results, costs, and impact on daily life.

Epidemiology, results of treatment, impact on activity of daily living (ADL), and costs for treatment of digital nerve injuries have not been considered consistently. Case notes of patients of 0-99 years of age living in Malmö municipality, Sweden, who presented with a digital nerve injury and were referred to the Department of Hand Surgery in 1995-2005 were analysed retrospectively. The incidence was 6.2/100 000 inhabitants and year. Most commonly men (75%; median age 29 years) were injured. Isolated nerve injuries and concomitant tendon injuries were equally common. The direct costs (hospital stay, operation, outpatient visits, visits to a nurse and/or a hand therapist) for a concomitant tendon injury was almost double compared with an isolated digital nerve injury (6136 EUR [range, 744-29 689 EUR] vs 2653 EUR [range, 468-6949 EUR]). More than 50% of the patients who worked were injured at work and 79% lost time from work (median 59 days [range 3-337]). Permanent nerve dysfunction for the individual patient with ADL problems and subjective complaints of fumbleness, cold sensitivity, and pain occur in the patients despite surgery. It is concluded that digital nerve injuries, often considered as a minor injury and that affect young people at productive age, cause costs, and disability. Focus should be directed against prevention of the injury and to improve nerve regeneration from different aspects.

The economic impact of electric saw injuries to the hand.

PURPOSE: Injuries from electric saws cause considerable hand trauma. This study is designed to provide information detailing the costs of these injuries. METHODS: The study was performed in a tertiary referral academic medical center. The records of patients injured by electric table saws were reviewed. Information regarding demographics, injury severity, medical expense, and time lost from work was analyzed. The patients were stratified by injury severity for further analysis. The mean wage for the region was used to estimate costs of time away from work. The Consumer Protection Agency's review was used to estimate the nationwide burden of these injuries. RESULTS: The study group included 134 patients. Of these patients, 126 were male and 8 were female. The dominant hand was injured in 20; the nondominant, in 114. The mean age was 47.0 years. The mean time lost from work was 64 days. The mean cost of medical expenses for all patients was $22,086, with $8,668 in lost wages, for a total of $30,754 mean cost per injury. The total economic burden for the injuries in this study is $4,121,097. These injuries represent a spectrum of severity, with minor injuries incurring lower hospital fees and requiring less time off work as compared to more involved injuries. CONCLUSIONS: Electric saws cause a wide spectrum of injuries that result in not only tremendous physical and emotional pain but also substantial economic impact as well. Technologies that would prevent such injuries would be a socioeconomic advancement. Federal mandates to implement such technologies should be encouraged.

Cost per case or total cost? The potential of prevention of hand injuries in young children - retrospective and prospective studies.

BACKGROUND: Health-care costs for hand and forearm injuries in young children are poorly documented. We examined costs in 533 children injured years 1996-2003. METHODS: Health-care costs and costs for lost productivity were retrospectively calculated in children from three catchment areas in Sweden. Seven case categories corresponding to alternative prevention strategies were constructed. RESULTS: Over time, diminishing number of ward days reduced the health-care cost per case. Among children, the cost of lost productivity due to parental leave was 14 percent of total cost. Fingertip injuries had low median costs but high total costs due to their frequency. Complex injuries by machine or rifle had high costs per case, and despite a low number of cases, total cost was high. Type of injury, surgery and physiotherapy sessions were associated with variations in health-care cost. Low age and ethnic background had a significant effect on number of ward days. CONCLUSION: The costs per hand injury for children were lower compared to adults due to both lower health-care costs and to the fact that parents had comparatively short periods of absence from work. Frequent simple fingertip injuries and rare complex injuries induce high costs for society. Such costs should be related to costs for prevention of these injuries.

A simple and inexpensive splint for phalangeal fractures.

This article describes the fabrication and application of a simple and inexpensive splint for treating phalangeal fractures.

Topical becaplermin improves outcomes in work related fingertip injuries.

BACKGROUND: Fingertip injuries are common and bear significant costs associated with treatment, lost work, and functional impairment. This study compared these factors in occupationally related fingertip injuries treated with becaplermin, a recombinant human platelet-derived growth factor, and those treated with surgical reconstruction. METHODS: This was a prospective controlled trial involving occupationally related fingertip injuries. Fifty men (ages 23-51) with full thickness, single fingertip injuries > or =1.5 cm(2) with or without phalangeal exposure and distal to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint were evaluated. Group I (n = 25) underwent treatment with daily topical becaplermin. Group II (n = 25) underwent surgical reconstruction with a skin graft or local soft tissue flap. Time to wound healing, time to return to work, associated treatment costs, and calculated functional impairment were recorded. RESULTS: Patients in Group I returned to work in significantly less time than those in Group II-10 days versus 38 days respectively). The average calculated functional impairment in Group I was 10% versus 22% in Group II. Associated treatment costs in group A were 1580 +/- 145 US Dollars compared with 6750 +/- 785 US Dollars in Group II. All differences were statistically significant at p < 0.05 CONCLUSION: In this study, the functional and economic costs were significantly less when fingertip injuries were treated with topical becaplermin than when they were treated with surgical reconstruction. This information should allow emergency and acute care physicians to treat these injuries more efficaciously and conveniently.

What determines the costs of repair and rehabilitation of flexor tendon injuries in zone II? A multiple regression analysis of data from southern Sweden.

The epidemiology and costs of repair and rehabilitation of zone II flexor tendon injuries in 135 patients from the southern part of Sweden were analysed. The little finger was most frequently injured (43%), usually with a knife (46%), and 30% of the injuries were work related. Total median costs within the health-care sector for the injuries were SEK 48,500 (1 EURO=9.23 SEK, 4/1/2002). Costs in other sectors were SEK 93,000. Active mobilization or mobilization with rubber band traction increased costs within the health-care sector (SEK 7400 or SEK 6000, respectively) but improved range of movement (5-7%). Immobilization had a higher complication rate (rupture or need for secondary procedures), which in itself increased total costs by 57%. Non-linear effects were found between age and costs within the health-care sector and the outcome.

Comparison of nail bed repair versus nail trephination for subungual hematomas in children.

Fifty-three fingers in 52 children were divided into 2 groups, operative and nonoperative, after fingernail crush injury. Criteria for inclusion into the study were an intact nail and nail margin with subungual hematoma and no previous nail abnormality. The length of the follow-up period averaged longer than 2 years for each group. Twenty-six fingers in 26 children were treated by nail removal, exploration, and repair of nail bed lacerations (operative group). Twenty-seven fingers in 26 children were treated by evacuation of hematoma by nail trephination without nail removal in 11 fingers and by observation in the other 16 fingers (nonoperative group). In the operative group, transient abnormalities (nail depression or hypertrophy), which resolved by 4 months, occurred in 3 patients. In the group treated by simple decompression, there were no complications except for 1 transient nail depression at 3 months. The average cost to the operative group was $1,263 compared with $283 to the trephination group. Although formal nail bed reconstruction has been advocated for hematomas larger than 25%, we found no notable difference in outcome between the 2 groups regardless of hematoma size, presence of fracture, injury mechanism, or age. Charges, however, were 4 times greater for the operative group. Based on the results of this study, we do not feel that nail removal and nail bed exploration is indicated or justified for children with subungual hematoma and an intact nail and nail margin.

Replantation-revascularization and primary amputation in major hand injuries. Resources spent on treatment and the indirect costs of sick leave in Sweden.

Thirty consecutive patients with amputation or devascularizing injuries of the thumb or two or more fingers proximal to the PIP joint were reviewed. Replantation or revascularization had been done in 27 patients, in 24 successfully. Three patients had primary amputation. The distribution of calculable costs was dominated by those for sick leave (49%), operation (26%) and ward costs (20%). Out-patient care, physiotherapy and travel together constituted only 6%. The cost of a successful replantation was equal to 1.6 times the mean annual salary of these patients and that of primary amputation about half as much. Mobility, power and performance of a standardized grip test were better for the successfully replanted or revascularized patients. Subjective evaluation of 23 parameters of function, cosmesis and quality of life did not disclose any differences. All patients except three had returned to their original work within 2 years.