J Trauma
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The high cost of health care has become a nationwide concern and there are several national initiatives under way to reduce the rate of increase of these costs. Among the most recent initiatives has been the introduction of Medicare reimbursement based upon Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs). This paper presents a retrospective analysis of the costs of care of burned patients admitted to the University of Alabama at Birmingham Burn Center and a profile of the financial impact of DRGs. ⋯ In 1983, if the care for Medicare patients had been reimbursed on the bases of DRG rates, the payment would have been $409,629 less than costs and $634,583 less than charges. This very unfavorable reimbursement is because DRG reimbursement is essentially a flat rate and for long lengths of stay costs are much greater than reimbursements. Specific policies on methods to correct this discrepancy are suggested.
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Most foreign bodies in the chest do their damage at the time of injury. While needle-like objects may migrate (6), delayed intrathoracic injury is rare. Delayed transthoracic penetration of the heart by a staple is reported, and is felt to be unique because acute hemopericardium resulted 30 days after the time of initial injury. The principles of recognition of pericardial tamponade, initial stabilization with periocardiocentesis, and immediate exploration are emphasized.
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Complete dislocation of the tarsal cuboid is presented along with regional anatomic considerations. Thorough literature search revealed only three other reported cases of dislocation of the tarsal cuboid. ⋯ It should be emphasized that A-P, lateral, and oblique X-rays should be obtained for injuries of the mid and forefoot. The rarity of such a dislocation is attributed to the structural integrity of the supporting ligamentous elements.
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Comparative Study
Comparison of serial debridement and autografting and early massive excision with cadaver skin overlay in the treatment of large burns in children.
Thirty-two children admitted from 1977 through 1981 were treated by serial debridement of their burn wounds with 1:1.5 to 3:1 meshed autografting of granulating tissue as it became available. Thirty-two burned children treated from 1981 to 1984 were treated by early total excision to fascia with application of 4:1 expanded autograft and cadaver skin for complete closure. The ages (6.8 +/- 0.6 years), sex distribution, and mean per cent third-degree burn (64 +/- 1%) were the same in both groups. ⋯ Overall operating time (10.3 +/- 0.8 hours) and units of blood loss (28.3 +/- 3.5) were indistinguishable in the survivors of both groups. The survivors of the early excision group underwent fewer operative procedures, (5.8 +/- 0.5 vs. 7.6 +/- 0.5) and had a greatly decreased length of hospital stay (57 +/- 5 vs. 97 +/- 8). The ultimate functional and aesthetic consequences of the two techniques must be compared.
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A retrospective analysis of 1,018 consecutive admissions with cutaneous burn injury over 32 months was carried out. Mortality probabilities as related to age, per cent TBSA burn, and presence of inhalation injury are presented. Incidence of and mortality from inhalation injury both rose with increasing burn area. The incidence of inhalation injury also rose with advancing age; mortality was lowest in the 5- to 14-year old age group and highest in those more than 59 years of age.