Return to work following mild traumatic brain injury.
Minna Wäljas1, Grant L Iverson, Rael T Lange
1Department of Neurosurgery, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland (Ms Wäljas and Dr Öhman); University of Tampere Medical School, Tampere, Finland (Ms Wäljas and Drs Hartikainen, Dastidar, Soimakallio, and Öhman); Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Harvard Medical School, and Red Sox Foundation and Massachusetts General Hospital Home Base Program, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Iverson); Defense and Veterans Brain Injury Center, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Lange); Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland (Dr Lange); Department of Neurosciences and Rehabilitation and Emergency Department Acuta, Tampere University Hospital, Tampere, Finland (Dr Liimatainen); and Medical Imaging Centre of Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Finland (Drs Dastidar and Soimakallio).
Most patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) return to work within two months. Factors like age, other injuries, and fatigue can predict a slower return to work.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Occupational Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is a common condition with significant implications for an individual's ability to return to work.
- Understanding the factors influencing return to work (RTW) is crucial for effective patient management and rehabilitation strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the key factors associated with the timeline of return to work (RTW) after experiencing a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
Main Methods:
- An inception cohort of 109 patients with mTBI was studied.
- Data collection included self-report questionnaires on symptoms and neurocognitive testing at 3-4 weeks post-injury.
- The study design utilized a prospective approach within an emergency department setting.
Main Results:
- Cumulative return to work rates reached 91.7% by 2 months and 97.2% by 1 year post-injury.
- Significant predictors for delayed RTW included older age, multiple bodily injuries, presence of intracranial abnormality, and higher fatigue ratings.
- These predictors explained a substantial portion of the variance in RTW at 30 days post-injury (R=0.504).
Conclusions:
- The majority of individuals in this cohort successfully returned to work within an 8-week period.
- Age, co-occurring physical injuries, initial brain imaging findings, and persistent fatigue are important factors influencing the duration of work absence after mTBI.
