Background: Pelvic and acetabular fractures are complex injuries requiring specialist treatment. Our institution is the National Centre for Treatment and Management of these injuries.
Aim: To audit all referrals to our institution over a 6-month period and calculate the cost incurred by being the national referral centre.
Methods: Retrospective review of database, and subsequent allocation of Casemix points to assess total cost of treatment for each patient referred to our institution.
Results: 103 patients referred with pelvic or acetabular fracture for operative management. The furthest referral distance was 181miles. Over-all, the length of stay was 15.4 days. The average inclusive cost for a referral to our unit for operative management was €16,302.
Conclusion: Pelvic and acetabular fractures are complex injuries that require specialist referral unit management. However for these units to remain sustainable money needs to "follow the patient".
Keywords: Casemix; Cost analysis; Money follows the patient; National Referral Centre; Pelvic and acetabular fractures.
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