Traumatic brain injury occurring at work
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Updated: Jul 16, 2026
Assessing Changes in Synaptic Plasticity Using an Awake Closed-Head Injury Model of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: January 20, 2023
Hwan Kim1, Angela Colantonio, Mary Chipman
1Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. hwan.kim@utoronto.ca
Introduction:
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) occurring in the workplace carries major economic repercussions such as lost wages and hospital costs. Little is known about the profile of risk factors for work-related traumatic brain injury.
Aims:
This study describes the pre-injury demographic characteristics, injury-related characteristics and outcomes of work-related TBI and compares them with those of non work-related TBI. This study aims to provide profiles of work-related TBI to improve our understanding and awareness of TBI in the workplace and to better inform prevention efforts.
Methods:
Cross-sectional study using the Comprehensive Data Set (CDS) of Ontario (Canada) Trauma Registry (OTR) from 1993 to 2001. Cases with the ICD-9-CM codes for head injury were included in the database of serious injuries from lead trauma hospitals.
Results:
The study identified 950 (7.3%) people with work-related TBI. Pre-injury demographics and injury-related characteristics of work-related TBI were significantly different from non work-related TBI such as age, gender, mechanisms of injury, Injury Severity Score, length of stay and in-hospital death.
Discussion:
This research provides the first comprehensive overview of work-related TBI based on Canadian data. It identifies high risk profiles to better target prevention.
