THE COST OF A HIP FRACTURE - ESTIMATES FOR 1,709 PATIENTS IN SWEDEN

We calculated the costs related to hip fractures and estimated the pot ential cost savings from preventing hip fractures. Subjects for this r etrospective study were 1,709 hip fracture patients admitted for a pri mary hip fracture during 1992 in Stockholm, Sweden. Direct costs were compiled for the services of hospital orthopedics, hospital geriatrics , nursing homes, home for the elderly group living, other acute hospit al care, and municipal home help. The direct costs per patient during 1 year after a fracture amounted to about USD 40,000. The county counc il was responsible for 59% of the direct costs during 1 year after a h ip fracture, while the remaining 41% were referred to the municipality . In the morbidity group, the potential cost savings per patient from preventing hip fractures was about USD 22,000.