COST-EFFECTIVENESS OF ACCELERATED REHABILITATION AFTER PROXIMAL FEMORAL FRACTURE

A randomised controlled trial comparing an accelerated rehabilitation program after proximal femoral fracture with conventional care and reh abilitation was conducted with 252 elderly patients treated at an Aust ralian general hospital in 1989/1990. This paper presents a cost-effec tiveness analysis of the accelerated rehabilitation program. The measu re of cost was all direct costs of treatment and subsequent care (medi cal and non-medical) incurred during the 4 months after fracture. Effe ctiveness was defined as whether the patient returned to semi-independ ent living; or if moderately or severely disabled prior to the fractur e to the premorbid level of physical independence. The cost for treatm ent up to 4 months after fracture was estimated at A$ 10,600 per accel erated rehabilitation patient and A$ 12,800 per conventional care pati ent (1990 Australian dollars, A$). Thus, accelerated rehabilitation re leases resources equivalent to approximately 17% of costs for treatmen t per patient. When cost effectiveness is considered, the potential co st savings rise to 38% per recovered patient.