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Musculoskeletal diseases affecting the foot and ankle are common and can result in debilitating pain and chronic disability. The purpose of this study was to estimate the economic burden associated with operative interventions targeting these afflictions in the Medicare population.

Procedure incidence was determined using data from Medicare Part B National Summary Data Files (for 2000-2011). Health care and productivity costs were estimated for each year using an incidence-based cost model, using demographic information from 10 633 patient encounters at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics over the period January 1, 2000, to December 31, 2010.

The estimated economic burden of foot and ankle surgery in the Medicare population was 11billionin2011,up38.2%since2000.Directhealthcarecostswereresponsibleforonly11%ofthistotal …