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Injury to the Human Median and Ulnar Nerves in the Forearm – Analysis of Costs for Treatment and Rehabilitation of 69 Patients in Southern Sweden

From the Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden, the Department of Community Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden and Lund University Centre for Health Economics, LUCHE, Sweden

Correspondence: Dr Hans-Eric Rosberg, Department of Hand Surgery, Malmö University Hospital, S-205, 02 Malmö, Sweden. Tel.: +46 40 33 17 25; fax: +46 40 92 88 55. E-mail: hanse.rosberg{at}hand.mas.lu.se

This study analysed the costs of median and ulnar nerve injuries in the forearm in humans and factors affecting such costs. The costs within the health-care sector and costs of lost production were calculated in 69 patients with an injury to the median and/or ulnar nerve in the forearm, usually caused by glass, a knife, or a razorblade. Factors associated with the variation in costs and outcome were analysed. The total median costs for an employed person with a median and an ulnar nerve injury were EUR 51,238 and EUR 31,186, respectively, and 87% of the total costs were due to loss of production. All costs were higher for patients with concomitant tendon injuries (4 tendons). The costs within the health-care sector were also higher for patients who changed work after the injury and if both nerves were injured. Outcome was dependent on age and repair method.

Key Words: nerve injury • median nerve • ulnar nerve • forearm • cost • epidemiology

Journal of Hand Surgery (British and European Volume), Vol. 30, No. 1, 35-39 (2005)
DOI: 10.1016/J.JHSB.2004.09.003


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