Costs of fracture-related infection: the impact on direct hospital costs and healthcare utilisation.

PURPOSE: Fracture-Related Infection (FRI) is associated with high medical costs and prolonged healthcare utilization. However, limited data is available on the financial impact. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of FRI on direct hospital costs and healthcare utilization.

METHODS: This was a retrospective cohort study in a level-1 trauma centre in the Netherlands. Patients ≥ 18 years, after open reduction and internal fixation of a long bone fracture between January 1st 2016 and November 1st 2021, were included. Exclusion criteria were Injury Severity Score (ISS) ≥ 16, indefinable data on costs or incomplete follow-up. Hospital costs related to fracture treatment were individually calculated based on procedure codes raised with a fixed percentage of overhead expenses, in line with hospital billing policies.

RESULTS: In total, 246 patients were included with a median follow-up of 1 year (IQR 0.6-1.8). A total of 45 patients developed FRI, of whom 15 patients had an FRI recurrence. Compared to non-FRI patients, median hospital costs from an FRI patient without and with recurrence, were respectively three (3.1) and seven (7.6) times higher. Compared to non-FRI patients, increased costs in patients with FRI or recurrent FRI are due to respectively a fivefold or even tenfold prolonged length-of-stay, two or seven additional infection-related surgeries, and 21 or 55 days of intravenous antibiotic treatment.

CONCLUSION: Direct healthcare costs of patients with single occurrence of FRI after long bone fracture treatment are three times higher compared to non-FRI patients. In case of FRI-recurrence, the differences in costs might even increase to sevenfold. To put this in perspective, cost of severely injured trauma patients were recently established at approximately 25.000 euros. Compared to non-FRI patients, increased costs in patients with FRI or recurrent FRI are due to respectively a fivefold or even tenfold prolonged length-of-stay, two or seven additional infection-related surgeries and 21 or 55 days of intravenous antibiotic treatment. Not only from patient perspective but also from a financial aspect, it is important to focus on prevention of (recurrent) FRI.