Occupational handicap in victims of limb injuries.
The authors analysed 115 victims of limb injuries due to traffic accidents, to compare the medico-legal assessment by the rate of permanent disability (PD) with a tridimensional evaluation of the damage (lesion, function and situation), from a professional aspect. There was a high correlation between PD and lesional and functional sequelae. However, in professional situations only with those who were working full-time was there a high correlation with PD. PD gives only a lesional assessment. The authors propose a professional damage evaluation which considers the handicap of the individual in her/his ordinary work besides the lesion and function, as long as the assessment is personal and it is meant to reintegrate the victim completely in her/his professional life.
Magalhaes
T
T
Instituto de Medicina Legal, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
Hamonet
C
C
de Sousa
M J
MJ
Matos
E
E
da Costa
J P
JP
D000063:Accidents, Traffic; D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007869:Leg Injuries / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D011174:Portugal; D014938:Work Capacity Evaluation