Post-injury symptoms after work related traumatic brain injury in Canadian population

To examine the nature and extent of persistent post-injury symptoms of persons who have experienced a work-related traumatic brain injury (WrTBI) in Ontario, Canada.

Using a retrospective case series design, post-injury symptoms, occupation, and work factors were examined for WrTBIs among an adult population. Data were abstracted from medical records of individuals who sustained a WrTBI and were discharged from a referral-based outpatient neurology service between the years of 1998 and 2001.

Of the 435 individuals who sustained a WrTBI, most were ≥ 45 years of age and male. Approximately 50% had injuries to the head only, while others had multiple injuries. The most common post-injury symptoms were headaches (85.1%), memory changes (74.3%), and mood/personality changes (68.3%). A small subset of individuals reported very long-term post-injury symptoms, and a majority of individuals had not yet returned to work.

This study profiles the demographic and clinical characteristics of an outpatient injured worker population with a history of WrTBI which provides a basis for the planning and implementation of assessment and treatment programs for this clinical population.