Frequency and cost of claims by injury type from a state workers' compensation fund from 1998 through 2008.
OBJECTIVE
To determine which work-related injuries are the most frequent and costly.


METHODS
Secondary analysis of workers' compensation claims data.


METHODS
Data were provided by a large, Maryland workers' compensation insurer from 1998 through 2008.


METHODS
Not applicable.


METHODS
None.


METHODS
For 45 injury types, the number of claims and compensation amount was calculated for total compensation and for medical and indemnity compensation separately.


RESULTS
Back and knee injuries were the most frequently occurring single injury types, whereas heart attack and occupational disease were the most expensive in terms of mean compensation. When taking into account both the frequency and cost of injury (mean cost × number occurrences), back, knee, and shoulder injuries were the most expensive single injury types.


CONCLUSIONS
Successful prevention and management of back, knee, and shoulder injuries could lead to a substantial reduction in the burden associated with work-related injuries.
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Tracy M
TM
Mroz
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Anthony R
AR
Carlini
Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN.
Kristin R
KR
Archer
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Stephen T
ST
Wegener
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Jordan I
JI
Hoolachan
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
William
W
Stiers
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.
Rebecca A
RA
Shore
Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD. Electronic address: rcastill@jhsph.edu.
Renan C
RC
Castillo
D000328:Adult; D001134:Arm Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D019567:Back Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D007345:Insurance Claim Review; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060051:Occupational Injuries / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000191:economics* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014481:United States; D014942:Workers' Compensation / Q000191:economics* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
Back; Health care costs; Knee; Occupational injuries; Rehabilitation; Shoulder; Workers' compensation