The expected direct and indirect costs following a fresh fibular rupture of the capsular ligament, and hence the socioeconomic burden on the patient, was investigated by a prospective randomised study comprising 120 males and females between 18 and 45 years of age. A comparison of three different conservative treatment methods A (immobilisation in a plaster cast for three weeks, followed by mobilisation with the aircast splint), B (mobilisation with the aircast splint) and C (Unna's paste dressing for two weeks with subsequent tape dressings and in each case immediate mobilisation) showed a significantly better stability after 6 months in the groups B (2.6 +/- 2.3) and C (3.6 +/- 3.8) than in A (4.8 +/- 3.5). The direct subsequent costs were also significantly lower in the groups B (DM 175) and C (DM 206) than in A (DM 340). Taking an average daily hospital care fee of DM 319 (1991 in West Germany) as basis, the direct costs sequential to early functional treatment are the lowest also in comparison with surgical treatment in a hospital. The indirect sequential costs due to loss of working hours are mainly dependent on professionally conditioned physical stress but increase with the period of immobilisation after a fresh fibular rupture of the capsular ligament.

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