Nonfatal work-related traumatic brain injury in Minnesota, 1999-2008

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a public health problem in the United States; it is notable that some variables of work-related TBI are different from those of non-work-related TBI. The Minnesota Department of Health has been conducting epidemiologic surveillance of cases of hospitalized TBI since 1993. Although most of the surveillance efforts have focused on all TBIs, the department does collect data on work-related TBIs and their associated outcomes. This article summarizes trends for nonfatal, work-related TBI cases over person, place, and time in Minnesota from 1999 to 2008. The greatest proportion of cases involved persons 35 to 44 years of age, and the most common causes were falls, motor vehicle traffic crashes, and being struck by objects. Most injuries occurred in the home, a location not routinely subjected to oversight for occupational safety concerns. The work-related TBI rate has been decreasing since 2004. This article also discusses the role of the physician in identifying and treating TBI.