Comparison of direct surgical cost and outcomes for unstable elbow injuries: internal joint stabilizer versus external fixation.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Unstable elbow injuries sometimes require External fixation (ExF) or an Internal Joint Stabilizer (IJS) to maintain joint reduction. No studies have compared the clinical outcomes and surgical costs of these 2 treatment modalities. The purpose of this study was to determine whether clinical outcome and surgical encounter total direct costs (SETDCs) differ between ExF and IJS for unstable elbow injuries.

Methods

This retrospective study identified adult patients (aged ≥ 18 years) with unstable elbow injures treated by either an IJS or ExF between 2010 and 2019 at a single tertiary academic center. Patients postoperatively completed 3 patient-reported outcome measures (the Disability of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand, the Mayo Elbow Performance score, and EQ-5D-DL). Po

SUBMITTER: Wynn M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10328786 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature