Previous research estimates that, by 2040, the annual incidence of hip fractures will be more than 500,000, which is 200,000 more than the current rates. This increase is expected to place significant financial burden on patients, families, insurers and the government.
In the study, the researchers took into account long-term medical costs, home modifications costs and costs associated with long-term nursing home care. From these factors, they estimated the impact of surgical and nonsurgical treatment in patients aged 65 and older.
The study found that the average per-patient savings for surgery compared with nonsurgical treatment were $65,279 for surgery to correct a displaced intracapsular hip fracture (occurring at the neck or head of the femur) and $67,964 for a displaced extracapsular hip fracture (occurring farther down the bone).