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Economics of facial fracture reductions in the United States over 12 months
Author(s) -
Nalliah Romesh P.,
Allareddy Veeratrishul,
Kim Min Kyeong,
Venugopalan Shankar R.,
Gajendrareddy Praveenkumar,
Allareddy Veerasathpurush
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
dental traumatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.82
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1600-9657
pISSN - 1600-4469
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-9657.2012.01137.x
Subject(s) - medicine , reduction (mathematics) , healthcare cost and utilization project , emergency medicine , health care , geometry , mathematics , economics , economic growth
– Objective: The face is a complex architectural structure in the body and is a high‐risk site for fractures. Hospitalization is necessary for adequate treatment. The objective of this study is to examine hospitalization outcomes associated with reduction in facial fractures in the United States. Methods: The Nationwide Inpatient Sample (NIS) of the health care cost and utilization project for 2008 was used. This database provides weighted estimates of all hospitalizations in the United States, which approximates 39.88 million admissions in the entire United States. Hospital discharges with primary procedure ICD‐9‐CM codes for reduction in facial fractures were selected. Outcomes examined included hospitalization charges, length of stay, and causes of injuries. All estimates obtained from the sample were projected to national levels. Results: Reduction in facial fractures was performed as primary procedure in 21 244 hospitalizations. The total hospitalization charges were about $1.06 billion, and total hospitalization days was 93 808. About 80% of all hospitalizations occurred among men. The frequently occurring external causes of injuries leading to hospitalization for reduction in facial fractures include assault (36.5% of all hospitalizations), motor vehicle traffic accidents (16%), falls (15%), and other transportation accidents (3.5%). The frequently performed procedures were open reduction in mandibular fractures (52.2%), open reduction in facial fractures including those of orbital rim or wall (14.7%), closed reduction in mandibular fractures (12.1%), and open reduction in malar and zygomatic fractures (11.8%). Conclusions: National hospitalization outcomes related to reduction in facial fractures indicate an extensive consumption of hospital resources. If hospital emergency room protocols and inpatient protocols relating to the most expensive fractures and longest hospital stays that we have identified can improve, this may lead to improved outcomes and a reduction in hospital charges for facial fractures.