RETURN TO WORK AFTER SEVERE HEAD INJURIES

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Abstract
Ninety-three patients with head injuries were followed up for at least three years (average five years). All had severe head injures as judged by post-traumatic amnesia of over 24 hours and/or a compound fracture of the skull or intracranial haemorrhage. The head injury was caused by a road traffic accident in 80% of the cases. Of these patients 64% returned to work in an average time of 15 months from the injury. Psychological symptoms were the most important adverse prognostic factors; advancing age, epilepsy, hemiplegia, and dysphasia were also important Some of the many problems for the patient, the family, and society during and after the recovery period are discussed. Organized rehabilitation appears to shorten the interval between Hie head injury and return to work, but at present facilities in Great Britain are inadequate to cope with the problem as a whole.

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