Effects of concomitant mild traumatic brain injury on resuming work after suffering from an isolated limb fracture: A cohort study. (15th October 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jodoin, Marianne; Rouleau, Dominique M.; Larson-Dupuis, Camille; Benoit, Benoit; Leduc, Stéphane; Laflamme, G-Yves; Gosselin, Nadia; Sabir, Meriem; De Beaumont, Louis
• Is Part Of: Brain injury. Volume 31:Number 12(2017)
• Page Start: 1683
• Page End: 1688
• Publication Date: 2017-10-15
• Subjects: Mild traumatic brain injury -- fracture -- return to work; Brain damage -- Periodicals; Brain -- Wounds and injuries -- Periodicals; Brain Injuries -- Periodicals; 617.481
• DOI: 10.1080/02699052.2017.1341644
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-9052

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background : The objective is to explore the effects of concomitant mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on return to work (RTW), among patients suffering from an isolated limb fracture. This follow-up study included a total of 170 working age subjects with an isolated limb fracture, and was conducted in a phone interview approximately 1-year post trauma. 41 had experienced an mTBI and 129 did not. Methods : Data were obtained through a phone interview conducted on average 20.7 months (SD = 9.6 months) post-accident. The main outcome measure was the number of days taken to RTW after the injury. Demographic information was also gathered during the phone interview. Workers' compensation status was obtained through the hospitals' orthopaedic clinic data. Results : The mTBI group took on average 329.7 days (SD = 298.0) to RTW after the injury, as opposed to 150.3 days (SD = 171.3) for the control group ( p < 0.001). After excluding patients who received workers' compensation, the mTBI group still missed significantly more days of work (M = 299.4 days; SD = 333.0) than the control group (M = 105.2 days; SD = 121.6) ( p < 0.0001). Conclusion : This study shows that mTBI increases work disability by preventing working-age individuals from rapidly returning to work.