1. Impact of Foot Type on Cost of Lower Extremity Injury
- Author
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ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND MATERIEL COMMAND FORT DETRICK MD, Teyhen, Deydre S, Nelson, Lindsay A, Koppenhaver, Shane L, Honan, Laura K, McKay, Alli E, Young, Andrea R, Christie, Douglas S, ARMY MEDICAL RESEARCH AND MATERIEL COMMAND FORT DETRICK MD, Teyhen, Deydre S, Nelson, Lindsay A, Koppenhaver, Shane L, Honan, Laura K, McKay, Alli E, Young, Andrea R, and Christie, Douglas S
- Abstract
The primary purpose was to determine the relationship between foot type and medical costs associated with lower extremity MSI. An additional purpose was to describe the utilization of healthcare and costs. Participants (n=688; M=392, F=276; age 30.1 7.4 years, BMI 25.8 3.3 kg/m2) were prospectively followed for 31 months. The Foot Posture Index (FPI-6) quantified static foot posture. Medical costs, diagnostic codes, and relative value units (RVUs) associated with healthcare visits were acquired from the military healthcare database. Univariate ANOVAs were performed to compare costs, body regions, and static foot posture. Three hundred and thirty six (50.3%) of 668 participants sought medical care for lower extremity MSI, totalling 2,112 medical visits and a cost of $436,965. Costs varied by foot type for injuries below the knee (p.05). Post hoc analysis demonstrated that the extreme pronated foot type resulted in increased RVUs for leg injuries (p=.02) and increased visits for injuries from the knee to the foot (p=.02), and in the leg region (p=.003) when compared to the normal foot type. Pronated feet, as assessed by the FPI-6, were associated with significantly higher injury costs and healthcare utilization for injuries from the knee to the foot, especially in the leg and foot regions.
- Published
- 2013