Traumatic brain injury occurring at work.
BACKGROUND
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.


OBJECTIVE
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.


CONCLUSIONS
This research provides the first comprehensive overview of work-related TBI based on Canadian data. It identifies high risk profiles to better target prevention.
Kim
Hwan
H
Department of Rehabilitation Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. hwan.kim@utoronto.ca
Colantonio
Angela
A
Chipman
Mary
M
D000062:Accidents, Occupational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016896:Treatment Outcome