title: Missing a follow-up after mild traumatic brain injury--does it matter?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to identify potential differing clinical characteristics between patients with a mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI) who attended a planned follow-up session and not. This study investigated whether clinical characteristics and attendance for a planned follow-up service 2-months after injury could be related to return-to-work (RTW) 1-year later.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective cohort study of 343 patients with MTBI admitted consecutively to the Department of Neurosurgery in 2009-2011. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the hospital files and data about sick leave from The Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service. Patients were categorized into two groups according to their attendance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and sixty-one (67%) patients attended (AG) and 80 (33%) did not (NAG) attend their follow-up appointments. The AG had significantly more frequently intracranial pathology on CT scan, had consumed less alcohol and were older. Logistic regression showed that follow-up attendance (OR = 16.89) and sick leave before injury (OR = 9.70) are unfavourably related to RTW at 12-months. Skull fracture and cause of injury had no influence of the outcome.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Not attending the follow-up has a favourable outcome after MBTI, indicating that these patients have a reduced need for medical and rehabilitation support for their brain injury.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Haukeland University Hospital , Bergen , Norway .
authors.forename: Eirik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vikane
authors.forename: Torgeir
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hellstrøm
authors.forename: Cecilie
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Røe
authors.forename: Erik
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bautz-Holter
authors.forename: Jörg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Assmus
authors.forename: Jan Sture
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Skouen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001071:Appointments and Schedules; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D059012:Lost to Follow-Up; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D063868:Patient Outcome Assessment; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Attendance or not to follow up; mild traumatic brain injury; return-to-work