Factors affecting return to work following facial trauma

Injury has a major impact on work absence. The aim of this study was to document the rate and timeframe at which facially injured patients return to work, and to identify the preinjury and injury-related factors that affect return to employment.

A prospective cohort study was undertaken of facially injured patients over a 12-month period. The primary measure of outcome assessed was time taken (in days) to return to employment. Sixteen preinjury and injury-related variables were identified to analyze their effect on return to work. Both univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed on each variable.

Seven hundred fourteen adult, facially injured trauma patients presented in the 12-month period. Two hundred thirteen patients (30 percent) were excluded because of being unemployed or retired, and 21 patients did not return to work. The remaining 480 patients were included in the study. The median time to return to work was 15 days (mean, 19 days). Seven preinjury and injury-related variables were identified that significantly affected return to employment: sex, operation status, income band, cause, work-related accident, concomitant injuries, and number of facial fractures.

As a cohort, facially injured patients have a relatively high rate of return to work (80 percent at 30 days, 96 percent at 12 months). Clinicians should identify those patients at risk of having a poor return to employment outcome and provide appropriate support and referral to allied health services.

Risk, II.