O presente trabalho investigou os custos do programa de atenção pré-natal na perspectiva subsidiar as decisões dos gestores de saúde. Objetivos: estimar o custo unitário da atenção pré-natal USF pesquisada; evidenciar as atividades e os seus direcionadores de custo entre as atividades do cuidado pré-natal e discutir o custo unitário obtido entre a USF pesquisada e o preconizado pelo protocolo do MS. Metodologia: pesquisa de caráter retrospectivo e exploratório na forma de um estudo de caso. Foi utilizada em Marília SP, em uma USF que atende 794 famílias de baixa renda, com 772 mulheres entre 15 e 49 anos. Como critérios de inclusão: todas as gestantes matriculadas no programa de pré-natal em de 2010; realização mínima de quatro consultas de pré-natal e uma de puerpério; sem restrição de idade. As fontes de informações foram: prontuário familiar e dados administrativos do Fundo Municipal de Saúde da Secretaria Municipal da Saúde (SMS), sendo usado o instrumento específico de coleta de dados clínicos por gestante. A valoração do trabalho dos profissionais foi baseada no montante bruto de salários reais, extraindo o valor correspondente à parcela de tempo dedicado aos cuidados por gestante. Os preços de medicamentos, vacinas e materiais de consumo e permanente foram obtidos por meio de documentos administrativos e os valores dos exames foram captados na Tabela SIA-SUS do DATASUS. Construiu-se um banco de dados e foram usadas planilhas eletrônicas do Programa EXCEL para o tratamento e análise de dados. O projeto foi submetido ao Comitê de Ética em Pesquisa da Escola de Enfermagem da USP e aprovado sob o nº de protocolo 1087/2011/CEP-EEUSP SISNEP CAAE: 0111.0.196.196-11. Resultados: as gestantes foram agrupadas em G1A (sem intercorrencias), G1B (com atendimento fora da USF), G2 (hipertensas) e mais uma gestante que apresentava Trombofilia. A maioria das gestantes marcou o ingresso no programa no primeiro trimestre gestacional. Acessaram a uma média de nove consultas, o que conformou 11 horas de atenção dos profissionais durante o ciclo. O custo unitário geral do G1A foi de R$471,09, do G1B foi de R$702,61 e do G2 foi de R$ 786,61. O ensaio de custo considerando a recomendação integral do MS foi de R$ 512,35. Para o G1A, G1B, G2 e a estimativa do MS, o maior gasto incidiu nos recursos humanos; e para a gestante portadora de Trombofilia, o maior gasto incidiu nos medicamentos. Conclusão: O custo unitário variou de acordo com o grupo observado, a depender das necessidades de cada gestante e como resposta do serviço, o modo de organização do trabalho dos profissionais repercutiu no custo final. A VD e consultas de enfermagem demandaram mais tempo, porém não se configuraram em maiores fatores de custos, se comparada à consulta médica. O custo unitário do G1A e a projeção de custo conforme as recomendações do MS, resultaram em valores aproximados. O programa de pré-natal na realidade prática apontou algumas sobreposições de trabalhos a exemplo dos exames laboratoriais na USF e no HMI. Acredita-se, porém, que tende a conformar-se em atendimento integrado, quando se constata mobilização de meios de transporte visando a articulação entre instituições de diferentes níveis, a fim de favorecer o acesso das gestantes aos serviços. / The present study investigated the costs of the prenatal care program from the perspective of supporting the decisions of health managers. Objectives: to estimate the unitary cost of prenatal care in the researched USF; to highlight activities and their cost drivers among the activities of prenatal care and to discuss the unitary cost obtained between the researched USF and the cost recommended by the MS protocol. Methods: retrospective exploratory survey in the format of a case study. The research site was Marília SP, in a USF serving 794 low-income families, with 772 women aged 15 to 49 years old. Inclusion criteria were: all pregnant women enrolled in the prenatal program in 2010; holding at least four prenatal visits and one puerperium visit; without age restriction. Information sources were: family medical records and administrative data from Fundo Municipal de Saúde da Secretaria Municipal de Saúde (SMS). A specific tool was used for collecting clinical data about pregnant women. To evaluate the work of professionals the base was from the gross amount of real salaries, extracting the value corresponding to the time devoted to the care of pregnant women. The prices of medicines, vaccines and consume and permanent materials were obtained from administrative documents and the values of the tests were captured in the SIA-SUS Table of DATASUS. It was built a database and electronic spreadsheets were used in EXCEL program for the treatment and analysis of data. The project was submitted to the Ethics Committee in Research of the USP Nursing School and it was approved under protocol number 1087/2011/CEP-EEUSP SISNEP CAAE: 0111.0.196.196-11. Results: pregnant women were grouped in G1A (uneventful), G1B (with care outside USF), G2 (hypertension) and another pregnant woman that presented Thrombophilia. Most pregnant women marked the entry into the program in the first gestational trimester. They had an average of nine visits, which corresponded to 11 hours of professional attention during the cycle. The unitary costs were the following: G1A = R$471.09, G1B = R$702.61 and G2 = R$786.61. The test cost considering the full recommendation of MS was R$512.35. For G1A, G1B, G2 and the estimation of MS the higher cost was related to human resources; while for the pregnant woman with thrombophilia, the higher cost was related to medicines. Conclusion: The unitary cost varied according to the observed group, depending on the needs of each pregnant woman and as a response of the service, the organization of the professionals work was reflected on the final cost. It has been shown that VD and nursing consultations demanded more time, but they were not the largest cost factors when compared to medical consultation. The unitary cost of G1A and the projected cost according to MS recommendations resulted in approximate values. In the practical reality, the prenatal program showed some overlap of work as, for instance, laboratorial exams at USF and at HMI. It is believed, however, that it tends to settle in integrated care when one sees the mobilization of transportation means aimed at different levels in order to facilitate the access of pregnant women to services.

Atualmente, acredita-se que detecção de lesões de cárie desde os estágios mais iniciais e a avaliação da atividade de cárie poderiam guiar a escolha da melhor opção de tratamento para o paciente e consequentemente, minimizar custos adicionais em curto e longo prazo. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar como a detecção de lesões de cárie em todos os estágios e a avaliação da atividade de cárie impactam em termos de 1) tempo, custo e desconforto reportado pelo paciente durante o exame das lesões cárie; 2) mudanças esperadas no planejamento do tratamento frente a essa estratégia e 3) necessidades de reintervenção operatória (desfecho primário), impacto na qualidade de vida do paciente e satisfação dos responsáveis. Para este estudo clínico controlado randomizado com grupos paralelos (CARDEC-02, NCT02473107) foram examinadas crianças de 3-6 anos com dentição decídua completa, que buscaram atendimento, em Barueri-SP, exceto as que não podiam ser seguidas ou consentimento/assentimento não foram obtidos. As crianças foram randomizadas, em bloco, por uma sequência gerada de acordo com a estratégia de diagnóstico: GA (detecção apenas das lesões moderadas e avançadas (escores ICDAS 3 a 6), sem avaliação da atividade) e GB (detecção e avaliação da atividade de lesões em todos os estágios de severidade (escores ICDAS 1 a 6)). O plano de tratamento de cada criança foi elaborado e realizado conforme a estratégia. As crianças foram seguidas por 6 e 12 meses. Para o objetivo 1, registrou-se o tempo gasto e os materiais consumidos em cada sessão de diagnóstico de cárie. Para o objetivo 2, as crianças do GA foram examinadas duas vezes (n=130), levando ou não em conta as lesões iniciais e o status de atividade. O tratamento planejado por cada estratégia foi, então, comparado. O impacto no custo do tratamento (por criança) foi estimado, em reais, considerando valores publicados (Schwendicke et al.,2015). Para o objetivo 3, o desfecho primário foi o número de superfícies com necessidades de tratamento operatório (presença de lesões de cárie cavitadas em dentina, substituição de restaurações, tratamento endodôntico e/ou exodontia) durante o acompanhamento de 12 meses. Tempo e custo dos procedimentos, qualidade de vida e satisfação também foram coletados durante o seguimento. Foram incluídos 260 pacientes (idade:4,5±0,9anos, ceo-s:3,8±6,5). 221 crianças foram reavaliadas após 1 ano. Detectar todas as lesões consumiu maior tempo (39s), entretanto isso não causou diferença no custo dos exames. Em análise antes-e-depois, a detecção de lesões iniciais aumentaria em 35% a necessidade de tratamento não-operatório e a avaliação da atividade pouparia o tratamento operatório em 5% dos pacientes. Após um ano, a necessidades de intervenção operatória foi semelhante entre os grupos (GA 2,7±4,7;GB 2,8±5,1; p=0,861), assim como o custo cumulativo/criança decorrente do tratamento resultante de cada estratégia (GA R$213,11±218,48;GB R$223,64±225,72; p=0,702). Ambas as estratégias tiveram resultados semelhantes quanto ao impacto na qualidade de vida do paciente e na satisfação dos responsáveis. Conclui-se, assim, que da detecção inicial e da avaliação da atividade de lesões de cárie em dentes decíduos causam um impacto mínimo após um ano de acompanhamento. / Currently, it is believed that caries detection since the earliest stages and caries activity assessment could guide the best option of treatment for the patient and consequently minimize additional costs in a short and long-term analysis. The objective of this study was to evaluate how detecting of any stage of caries lesions (all severities) and caries activity assessment could impact in terms of 1) time, cost and discomfort reported by the child in caries examination session; 2) expected changes in treatment planning in concerning the diagnostic strategy and 3) the need, after one year, for new operative intervention (primary outcome), impact on child\'s quality of life and their parents\' satisfaction. For this randomized controlled clinical study with parallel groups (CARDEC-02, NCT02473107), children aged 3-6 years with complete primary dentition, who sought for dental care in Barueri-SP, were examined, except those that could not be followed or consent was not obtained. Children were randomized in blocks, by a sequence generated according to the diagnostic strategy: GA (detection of moderate and advanced lesions only (ICDAS scores 3 to 6) without evaluation of activity) and GB (detection and activity assessment of lesions at all severities (ICDAS scores 1 to 6)). The treatment plan for each child was made and carried out according to the strategy. Children were followed for 6 and 12 months. For objective 1, the time spent and the materials used in each caries diagnosis session were recorded. For objective 2, children from the GA group were examined twice (n = 130), considering or not initial lesions and activity status. The treatment planned by each strategy was then compared. The impact on the cost of treatment (per child) was estimated, in Brazilian Real, considering published values (Schwendicke et al., 2015). For objective 3, the primary endpoint was the number of surfaces with operative treatment needs (presence of dentine cavitated lesions, replacement of restorations, endodontic treatment and/or extraction) during the 12-month follow-up. Time and cost of procedures, quality of life and satisfaction were also collected during follow-up. 260 patients (age: 4.5 ± 0.9 years, dmf-s: 3.8 ± 6.5) were included. 221 children were re-evaluated after 1 year. Detecting all lesions consumed longer time (39s), however this did not cause any difference in the cost of exams. In the before-and-after analysis, the detection of initial lesions would increase the need for non-operative treatment in 35% and the activity assessment would save operative treatment in 5% of the patients. After one year, operative intervention requirements were similar between groups (GA 2.7 ± 4.7, GB 2.8 ± 5.1; p = 0.881), as well as the cumulative cost per child from the treatment of each strategy (GA R$ 213.11 ± 218.48, GB R$ 223.64 ± 225.72; p = 0.702). Both strategies had similar results regarding impact on the patient\'s quality of life and satisfaction of their parents. It was concluded, therefore, that the detection of initial lesions and activity assessment in primary teeth cause minimal impact after one year of follow-up.

Master thesis describes the design of the project of a new service creation for the com-pany, which is engaged in offering services through active telemarketing. The method-ology of project management is used in the thesis.

Objetivo: Estimar a utilização de recursos e custos diretos relacionados à terapia endócrina (TE) versus quimioterapia (QT) no tratamento de câncer de mama avançado (CMA) receptores hormonais positivos (RH+) em pacientes pós menopáusicas,depois de pelo menos uma TE anterior. Métodos: Estudo longitudinal retrospectivo analisou pacientes pós menopáusicas com CMA em tratamento com fulvestranto ou QT entre 2006 e 2008, em um serviço público de oncologia ambulatorial. Apenas pacientes sem crise visceral e com pelo menos uma terapia anterior hormonal foram considerados elegíveis. Os prontuários foram revisados e as informações sobre diagnóstico, tratamento, e utilização de recursos foram obtidas. Resultados: As pacientes eram do sexo feminino e a idade média foi de 64,6 ± 12,6 anos. As pacientes estavam bem balanceados entre os grupos, considerando as características basais. Vinte e cinco pacientes foram incluídas no estudo, 13 pacientes receberam QT e 12 pacientes receberam fulvestranto. O esquema de QT mais usado foi o regime com paclitaxel (n = 5, 38%). O número médio de ciclos foi de 7,6 e 5,8 para fulvestranto e QT, respectivamente. O custo médio de tratamento por paciente foi de R$ 16.679 (USD11,914, 2005 índice de paridade de poder de compra 1USD = 1,4BRL) para fulvestranto e BRL 32946 (USD 23, 533) para QT. O custo médio por ciclo foi de R$ 2,199 (US$ 1,571) e BRL 5,710 (USD 4,079) para fulvestranto e QT, respectivamente, resultando em BRL 3,511(USD 2,508) de custo incremental por ciclo. Conclusões: Nossos resultados indicam que TE com fulvestranto pode ser economicamente adequada em pacientes com CMA RH + que falharam a pelo menos uma linha anterior de TE. Futuras pesquisas são necessárias para validar estes resultados em outros contextos, mas consideramos que as nossas estimativas refletem o mundo real da prática clínica no Brasil / OBJECTIVES: To estimate the resource utilization and costs related to endocrine therapy (ET) versus chemotherapy (CT) in the treatment of hormonal receptor positive (HR+), advanced breast cancer (ABC) patients, after at least one previous ET. METHODS: This retrospective longitudinal study analyzed ABC patients treatment with fulvestrant or CT between 2006 and 2008 in a public oncology outpatient service. Only patients without visceral crisis and with at least one previous hormonal therapy were considered eligible. Medical charts were reviewed by two investigators and information about diagnosis, course of treatment, and resource utilization was obtained. RESULTS: Patients were all female and the mean age was 64,6 ± 12,6 years. Patients were well matched between groups considering baseline characteristics. Twenty-five patients were enrolled in the study, 13 patients received CT and 12 patients received fulvestrant. The most common CT regimen was paclitaxel (n = 5, 38%). The mean number of cycles was 7,6 and 5,8 for fulvestrant and CT, respectively. The mean treatment cost per patient was BRL 16,679 (USD 11,914; 2005 purchasing power parity index 1USD = 1.4BRL) for fulvestrant and BRL 32,946 (USD 23,533) for CT. The mean cost per cycle was BRL 2,199 (USD 1,571) and BRL 5,710 (USD 4,079) for fulvestrant and CT, respectively, resulting in BRL 3,511 (USD 2,508) incremental cost per cycle. CONCLUSIONS: Our study results indicate that subsequent ET with fulvestrant can be economically appropriate among HR+ ABC patients. Further researches could validate these findings in other contexts, but we consider that our estimations reflect the real world clinical practice in Brazil

A hipótese básica do presente trabalho é que embora a ocorrência de uma determinada doença possa apresentar impactos econômicos expressivos para a pecuária de um país - onerando não apenas a atividade produtiva - alguns produtores não reconhecem, individualmente, a importância devida em adotar medidas preventivas, uma vez que a ocorrência da doença não é frequente. Ademais, a existência de externalidades faz com que a ação de um produtor em relação às medidas sanitárias de seu rebanho afete os demais produtores da mesma região, o que também pode não ser percebido por eles. Diante disso, o presente trabalho desenvolve um procedimento teórico para a análise de decisões estratégicas dos produtores quanto à prevenção contra doenças em animais, face ao risco de contaminação de seu rebanho. O desenvolvimento do modelo é baseado nos preceitos da Teoria dos Jogos, e na análise econômica de benefício/custo como suporte da tomada de decisão do produtor. Depois de modelado o problema e determinados os possíveis equilíbrios do jogo, infere-se sobre as possíveis atuações do governo, no uso de incentivos econômicos (como indenizações e multas) para que o equilíbrio seja o da prevenção. Em seguida, o modelo teórico é aplicado a um caso específico de surto de febre aftosa no Brasil. Os resultados mostram que quando não se tem um mercado diferenciado para animal não vacinado, o equilíbrio do jogo tende para a situação onde os produtores decidem vacinar seu rebanho, sugerindo que não existe a necessidade de intervenção do governo para estimular a prevenção. Na prática, no entanto, o governo brasileiro estabelece políticas de incentivo, visto que alguns produtores não vacinam seu rebanho mesmo conhecendo os riscos, o que se traduz na falta de racionalidade dos mesmos. Considerando essa irracionalidade por parte de alguns produtores, o presente estudo é importante para que estes possam delinear panoramas de decisão, de forma a identificar as melhores ações a serem tomadas de forma coletiva. / The basic hypothesis of this study is that producers do not perceive, individually, the importance of adopting prevention measures, even when aware of the economic risks for them and for the local economy, because the outbreaks of some diseases are not frequent. Moreover, the presence of externalities is such that the action of one producer regarding sanitary measures of the herd affects other producers in the same region, which also cannot be perceived by them. This study aims to develop a theoretical procedure to infer about strategic decisions taken by producers to prevent animal disease in their herds, in face of the risk of contamination. The development of the model is based on the Game Theory, and the benefit cost analysis as support for producer\'s decision. After modeling the problem and determining the equilibriums, these are used to elaborate inferences about possible actions of the government through economic incentives (such as indemnities and fines) to encourage the prevention. Then, the theoretical model is applied to a specific case of a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak in Brazil. The results indicate that in the absence of a differential market for non-vaccinated animals, the game equilibrium tends to the situation where producer\'s decisions are to vaccinate their herd, suggesting that government intervention is not necessary. Even though, the Brazilian government uses incentive policies for the cattle vaccination since some producers do not vaccinate their animals, despite of their awareness of the risks, which suggests lack of rationality. Considering the irrationality of some producers, this study is important for them to delineate decisions scenes, identifying the best actions to be taken in the collective context.

O enfermeiro tem sido cada vez mais requisitado para envolver-se nas decisões financeiras nas organizações de saúde. Sua participação no gerenciamento dos custos associado à assistência de enfermagem é importante para conhecer o quanto a enfermagem contribui para o faturamento de uma Unidade de Terapia Intensiva (UTI) e ao faturamento de um hospital e evidenciar, financeiramente, a relevância do trabalho desse profissional. No entanto, a literatura brasileira carece de estudos nesse aspecto. O objetivo deste estudo foi levantar o valor do faturamento gerado pelos procedimentos de enfermagem, mediante as prescrições médica e de enfermagem, identificar as atividades de enfermagem que são realizadas, mas não recebem pagamento pelas operadoras de saúde e estimar a perda monetária do hospital pela não taxação das atividades de enfermagem, em uma. Tratou-se de um estudo de caso exploratório, descritivo, com abordagem quantitativa. O estudo foi desenvolvido na UTI Cardiológica de um hospital geral filantrópico, com 319 leitos, na cidade de São Paulo. A amostra total calculada para 3 meses foi de 168 pacientes. O faturamento médio gerado pelas prescrições de enfermagem e médica foi de R$ 773,98, e R$ 333,06 corresponderam à prescrição de enfermagem e R$ 440,92, à prescrição médica. Em relação ao valor gerado pela prescrição de enfermagem (R$333,06), R$ 261,67 corresponderam ao pagamento de materiais de consumo e R$ 71,39, ao pagamento de taxas. Em relação ao valor gerado pela prescrição médica (R$ 440,92), R$ 322,51 corresponderam ao pagamento de materiais de consumo e R$ 118,41, ao pagamento de taxas. Os procedimentos da prescrição de enfermagem que mais contribuíram para o faturamento foram a troca de filtro bacteriano (R$ 10.342,80), a realização de punção venosa (R$ 8.062,99), o curativo de ferida operatória (R$ 5.315,26) e o curativo de traqueostomia (R$ 4.762,42). Os procedimentos provenientes da prescrição médica que mais geraram faturamento foram a realização de glicemia capilar (R$ 21.602,06), passagem de pressão arterial invasiva (R$ 14.220,56) e a passagem de sonda gástrica/enteral (R$ 20.239,00). A perda média estimada foi de R$ 480,65 por paciente da amostra. A estimativa média de perda para a amostra estudada foi de R$ 81.263,65. A projeção de perda média de faturamento, para o período dos 3 meses do estudo, para a amostra selecionada, foi de R$ 153.391,15. A extrapolação da estimativa de perda média para o período de um ano, para a amostra selecionada, foi de R$ 613.564,60. Do faturamento total da amostra selecionada, as atividades de enfermagem contribuíram com 1,7% do faturamento, e 0,65% corresponderam aos procedimentos executados mediante a prescrição de enfermagem e 1,05%, aos procedimentos provenientes da prescrição médica / Nurses have increasingly been asked to participate in financial decisions in healthcare organizations. Their participation in managing the costs of nursing care is important to know how nursing contributes to the turnover of an ICU and hospital billing, and, it shows, financially, the relevance of the work of these professionals. However, Brazilian literature lacks studies in this regard. The objective of this study was to raise the value of the revenue generated by nursing procedures by the medical and nursing requirements, to identify nursing activities that are performed but not paid by health insurance companies and to estimate the monetary loss of the hospital for not taxing nursing activities in an intensive care unit (ICU). It was an occurrence study, exploratory, descriptive in a quantitative approach. The study was conducted in the Cardiology ICU of a philantropic general hospital, with 319 beds in the city of Sao Paulo. The total sample calculated for three months was 168 patients. The sources of information were the medical and accounting records of selected patients. The average revenue generated by medical and nursing prescriptions was R$ 773,98 which R$ 333,06 corresponded to the nursing prescription and R$ 440,92, the medical one. In relation to the value generated by the nursing prescription (R$ 333,06), R$ 261,67 corresponded to the payment of consumables and R$ 71,39 to fees. For the value generated by the prescription (R$ 440,92), R $ 322,51 corresponded to the payment of consumables and R$ 118,41, the payment of fees. The procedures of nursing prescription which most contributed to revenue were the exchange of bacteria filter (R$ 10.342,80), performing venipuncture (R$ 8.062,99), the surgical wound dressing (R$ 5,315.26) and tracheostomy dressing (R$ 4.762,42). The procedures from prescription which most generated revenues were performing capillary blood glucose (R$ 21.602,06), passage of invasive blood pressure (R$ 14.220,56) and passage of nasogastric tube / enteral (R$ 20.239,00). The average loss was estimated at R$ 480,65 per patient sample. The average estimate of loss for the sample studied was R$ 81.263,65. The projected average loss of revenue for the period of three months of the study, for the sample selected, was R$ 153.391,15. The extrapolation of the estimated average loss for the period of one year, for the selected sample, was R$ 613.564,60. From the total revenue of the selected sample, nursing activities accounted for 1.7% of revenues, and 0.65% corresponded to the procedures performed by nursing prescription and 1.05% corresponded to the procedures from the doctors prescription

<p>The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the outcome when treating children for displaced femoral fractures with external fixation.</p><p>In a consecutive and prospective study during the period 1993-2000, 96 children aged 3-15 years with 98 displaced femoral fractures were treated with external fixation and early mobilisation. The mean age was 8.1 years, the mean hospital stay was 8.7 days and the mean treatment time was 61 days. All fractures healed. Minor complications included pin tract infections (18%), clinical insignificant malunions, heterotopic ossification and two re-reductions. Major complications (6%) included two re-fractures after significant trauma and three plastic deformations after premature fixator removal leading to an osteotomy.</p><p>Radiological evaluation was performed up to one year for the whole group and for a subgroup up to two years. The evaluation showed that malunions were few and prone to remodelling almost completely. Although the fractures were fixated without shortening, as recommended earlier, the overgrowth was far less than expected.</p><p>Isokinetic muscle strength was measured in both hamstrings and quadriceps in 31 of the patients and compared with 31 matched children without previous injury to the legs. Early mobilisation seems to prevent residual muscle weakness previously shown after treatment with traction or cast for femoral fractures in children.</p><p>A cost analysis was performed, comparing three different treatment modalities of femoral shaft fractures: traction in hospital, traction in hospital/at home and external fixation. The analysis included both total medical costs and costs for the care provider. The most important factors were days spent at the hospital and the sick leave for the care provider. Treatment that can minimise these factors will contribute strongly to a lowering of health care costs.</p><p>Conclusion: External fixation of displaced femoral fractures in children can be used as standard treatment in children aged 3-15 years. The treatment provides satisfactory results with a low rate of major complications. Early mobilisation seems to prevent residual muscle weakness. The treatment reduce the number of days in hospital and the number of days of sick leave for the care provider and contributes strongly to lowering health care costs.</p>

Thesis (M.Eng. (Development and Management Engineering)--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

The overall aim of this thesis was to evaluate the outcome when treating children for displaced femoral fractures with external fixation. In a consecutive and prospective study during the period 1993-2000, 96 children aged 3-15 years with 98 displaced femoral fractures were treated with external fixation and early mobilisation. The mean age was 8.1 years, the mean hospital stay was 8.7 days and the mean treatment time was 61 days. All fractures healed. Minor complications included pin tract infections (18%), clinical insignificant malunions, heterotopic ossification and two re-reductions. Major complications (6%) included two re-fractures after significant trauma and three plastic deformations after premature fixator removal leading to an osteotomy. Radiological evaluation was performed up to one year for the whole group and for a subgroup up to two years. The evaluation showed that malunions were few and prone to remodelling almost completely. Although the fractures were fixated without shortening, as recommended earlier, the overgrowth was far less than expected. Isokinetic muscle strength was measured in both hamstrings and quadriceps in 31 of the patients and compared with 31 matched children without previous injury to the legs. Early mobilisation seems to prevent residual muscle weakness previously shown after treatment with traction or cast for femoral fractures in children. A cost analysis was performed, comparing three different treatment modalities of femoral shaft fractures: traction in hospital, traction in hospital/at home and external fixation. The analysis included both total medical costs and costs for the care provider. The most important factors were days spent at the hospital and the sick leave for the care provider. Treatment that can minimise these factors will contribute strongly to a lowering of health care costs. Conclusion: External fixation of displaced femoral fractures in children can be used as standard treatment in children aged 3-15 years. The treatment provides satisfactory results with a low rate of major complications. Early mobilisation seems to prevent residual muscle weakness. The treatment reduce the number of days in hospital and the number of days of sick leave for the care provider and contributes strongly to lowering health care costs.

Geothermal energy is an important source of clean and renewable energy. This project deals with the study of deep geothermal power plants for the generation of electricity. The design involves the extraction of heat from the Earth and its conversion into electricity. This is performed by allowing fluid deep into the Earth where it gets heated due to the surrounding rock. The fluid gets vaporized and returns to the surface in a heat pipe. Finally, the energy of the fluid is converted into electricity using turbine or organic rankine cycle (ORC). The main feature of the system is the employment of side channels to increase the amount of thermal energy extracted. A finite difference computer model is developed to solve the heat transport equation. The numerical model was employed to evaluate the performance of the design. The major goal was to optimize the output power as a function of parameters such as thermal diffusivity of the rock, depth of the main well, number and length of lateral channels. The sustainable lifetime of the system for a target output power of 2 MW has been calculated for deep geothermal systems with drilling depths of 8000 and 10000 meters, and a financial analysis has been performed to evaluate the economic feasibility of the system for a practical range of geothermal parameters. Results show promising an outlook for deep geothermal systems for practical applications.