Cost Benefit Analysis Of Suture-Button Versus Screw Fixation Of The Distal Tibiofibular Syndesmosis.

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to discuss and evaluate the cost effective use of the suture-button device as an alternative to screw fixation for the use of distal tibiofibular syndesmosis for the purpose of anatomical reduction of posttraumatic disruption in association with ankle fractures. While the medical consumables remain more expensive per unit cost, the relative cost savings to the organisation through a combination of length of stay, procedural cost, and the risk of operative and post operative complications, provides strong evidence that the suture-button technique, if adopted, may result in significant savings to the health care providers while at the same time not increasing the risk profile to the patient- that is, provided that the organisation’s practice is to remove the Diastasis Screw fixation prior to mobilisation. -