Cost analysis and a forecast of fractures of the proximal femur in the Province of Middle Finland.

In 1980 136 patients with fracture of the proximal part of the femur were treated in the Province of Middle Finland which has a population of 242 439. The total cost of these patients was analysed on the basis of hospital and travelling costs and loss of income. This amounted to 1 728 185 Finnmarks (FIM) ($ 367 066) and the cost per patient was 12 707 FIM ($ 2 700). The number of patients increased during the period 1970-1980 by 157%. If the incidence of fractures of the proximal femur continues to increase at the same rate, there will be about 350 patients with this kind of injury in the Province of Middle Finland in 1990. The number of treatment days will then amount to 5 850 and the total costs will be 4 447 450 FIM ($ 944 638).