[The economic impact of hand injury].

Basing on 170 cases treated at the II Surgery Department of the Medical Faculty of Kraków University, the authors have tried to assess the direct and indirect costs of treatment of hand injuries. The rates negotiated between the Małopolska NHS Provides and the University Hospital were analyzed in order to assess direct treatment costs of hand injuries. Indirect cost assessment was based on analysis of insurance costs sustained by insurance providers. The analysis showed that over 96% of total treatment costs are indirect expenses related to compensation, work absence and disability pensions. The costs could probably be extensively reduced if hand injuries were referred directly to specialized surgery units.