Abstract
Background: Previous studies have shown that work-related injuries are often associated with inferior outcomes. The aim of the current study was to compare the long-term functional outcome after polytrauma between work-related and non-work-related injuries at a minimum follow-up of 10 years. Methods: Six hundred thirty-seven polytrauma patients were evaluated using a patient questionnaire and a physical examination. The average follow-up was 17.5 years (range 10-28 years); the average Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 20.7 (range 4 to 54). Results: A multivariate analysis, with adjustments for age, sex, injury severity, and injury pattern, demonstrated that work-related injuries resulted in significantly inferior outcomes measured by the Hannove Score for Polytrauma Outcome (HASPOC), 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey (SF-12), requirement for medical aids and devices, length of rehabilitation, and retirement status (P < .05). Conclusions: Polytrauma patients receiving workers' compensation achieve significantly inferior long-term outcomes than other patients. The obtained results demonstrate that psychosocial variables such as insurance status have a significant impact on the functional recovery following polytrauma.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 30-36 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | American journal of surgery |
Volume | 190 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jul 2005 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Compensation
- Injury
- Outcome
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Surgery