title: Correlating the anatomical site of injury and work-related factors with sick leave duration following minor musculoskeletal injuries.
abstract: Many factors are associated with long sick leaves and therefore, reliance solely on disease-related factors can potentially underestimate sick leave durations. Here, we wanted to assess the association between the injury sites, work-related factors, and the length of sick leaves. Comprehensive medical legal reports of workers with pure minor musculoskeletal injuries were reviewed. 2029 reports of workers were included. 32.8% had sick leaves of less than a week in duration. Lower limb injuries were associated with longer sick leaves only in patients performing strenuous jobs. Public sector workers sustaining an injury at work and performing strenuous jobs were associated with longer sick leaves. Senior workers returned earlier to work, but age and gender were not strongly correlated with long sick leaves. There was a weak but significant association between sick leave duration and the period spent refraining from hobby activities, and almost all patients returned to their work before their hobbies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedics, Kings Mill Hospital in Sutton in Ashfield, Nottinghamshire, UK. Zeiad@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: Zeiad
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Alshameeri
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohammed
authors.forename: Dilip
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Malkan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000293:injuries*; D016272:Occupational Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017149:Private Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017150:Public Sector / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D013997:Time Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult