Materials and methods
fractures, Trauma
PAD
In this study, the available data of 39 ankle fractures from the prospective randomised controlled trial performed at the BG Trauma Center Ludwigshafen during the period from 2016 to 2019 were analysed. The VIT study had been registered at the DRKS (german clinical trial registry, an approved primary registry in the WHO network; DRKS00010510) and the study protocol had been published a priori [Patients in the intervention group received VIT therapy for soft-tissue conditioning and were instructed to use it 24 h per day preoperatively if possible and at least 6 to 8 h per day postoperatively. VIT therapy was performed using the VADOplex device (OPED GmbH, Oberlaindern, Germany). This air compressor inflates and deflates an air bubble, placed under the sole of the foot by a foot pad, to a pressure of 130 mmHg within one second at an interval of 20 s. The control group received exclusively elevation of the extremity. No further soft tissue conditioning measures were allowed to be applied in either group. Blinding throughout the clinical study was not possible due to the obvious difference in interventions. However, the primary outcome parameter and daily treatment were conducted by independent residents and consultant surgeons not involved in the study. The detailed description of the clinical study course, its results and limitations can be found in the paper previously published in 2021 [After business accounting had been completed, it was now possible to use the case numbers of these patients to calculate the revenue, the detailed costs and thus the contribution margin generated in the individual cases. In addition, the same parameters were collected for all ankle fractures treated in 2018. Revenues were provided in form of the payment received by the health insurer per case and incurred costs included staff wages (physical therapy, surgical ward, anaesthesology and OR), pharmaceutical expenses and medical and non-medical infrastructural costs.