Traumatic brain injury occurring at work

Abstract

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.

Epidemiology of work‐related traumatic brain injury: A systematic review

“…The vast majority of wrTBI studies (23 of 24; 96%) were descriptive in nature, where researchers described wrTBI in terms of its occurrence (e.g., incidence) and/or characteristics. One study added an analytic component by examining risk factors associated with wrTBI compared to non‐wrTBI [Kim et al, ]. Sixteen (67%) studies used a cross‐sectional design, seven (29%) were case series, and one (4%) used a historical cohort design.…”

“…Seven studies presented data on the severity of wrTBI cases, assessed using measures such as the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS), Injury Severity Score (ISS), and duration of loss of consciousness and/or post‐traumatic amnesia. Specifically, two studies using hospital records showed that the majority (>70%) of hospitalized wrTBI cases were mild (i.e., GCS 13–15) [Kraus and Fife, ; Salem et al, ], while studies using trauma registry data had more severe cases as defined by the ISS [Kim et al, ; Graves et al, ]. In nine studies, the percentage of fatal cases (i.e., case fatality rates) ranged from 4% to 11%.…”

“…Work‐related TBI (wrTBI) is considered among the most serious occupational injuries, leading to profound disruption of workers’ lives and significant economic burdens in terms of medical costs and lost wages [Kim et al, ; Colantonio et al, ]. Even workers sustaining mild TBI may experience long‐term consequences, including challenges in daily activities and return to work [Chang et al, ].…”

“…Even workers sustaining mild TBI may experience long‐term consequences, including challenges in daily activities and return to work [Chang et al, ]. Furthermore, it has been shown that wrTBI is significantly different from TBI that did not occur at work (non‐wrTBI) in a number of demographic and injury characteristics [Kim et al, ]. This emphasizes the importance of identifying wrTBI‐specific risk factors in order to inform targeted prevention strategies in work settings.…”

Occupational fall injuries presenting to the emergency department

“…Among the various injuries that can occur, occupational injury is important globally. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7] Occupational injury in economically active people causes appreciable socioeconomic and individual losses. This and the knowledge that fall injury among all occupational injuries carries a poor prognosis, have spurred efforts involving surveys that specifically address occupational injury to focus on reducing and even pre-venting injury severity.…”