In recent years, ambulatory care visits account for the largest share of per-person direct cost for persons with a musculoskeletal injury, with the share increasing while inpatient costs share drops. At an average cost of $2,648 per person in 2009-2011, an increase of 80% from 1996-1998, ambulatory care accounted for 34% of per person direct cost in 2009-2011. While the share of mean per-person cost for inpatient care dropped from 35% to 27% between 1996-1998 and 2009-2011, the mean cost rose from $1,367 to $1,928, an increase of 26%. At the same time, the average per person cost for prescriptions rose from $427 to $1,314, in 2011 dollars, an increase of 161%.  (Reference Table 10.4 PDF CSV)

Total direct per-person health care cost for those with a musculoskeletal injury were $7,104, and increase of 75% since 1996-1998. Incremental direct per-person costs, those costs most likely attributable to a musculoskeletal injury, rose from $1,213 to $1,913, in 2011 dollars, an increase of 58%. (Reference Table 10.6 PDF CSV)

Total aggregate direct costs for those with a musculoskeletal injury were $176.1 billion in 2009-2011, a rise of 86% from the $94.7 billion in 1996-1998, in 2011 dollars. Incremental aggregate direct costs increased from $28.3 billion in 1996-1998 to $47.4 billion in 2009-2011, an increase of 67%.