title: Occupational handicap in victims of limb injuries.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Medicina Legal, Universidade do Porto, Portugal.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Magalhaes
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hamonet
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: de Sousa
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Matos
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: 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