[Treatment costs in initially underestimated infections of the hand].

Summary. Infections that develop as a complication of minor injuries to the hand, frequently are underestimated by the patient or by the physician initially consulted. Between 1990 and 2000, we have treated 172 in-patients as a result of this underestimation. In a retrospective study we have tried to evaluate the economic consequences. According to our results, treatment costs of 210,000 D-Mark could have been saved, if adequate treatment had been initiated on time.