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Research links work productivity loss with distal radius fracture

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LAS VEGAS — Patients who sustained a distal radius fracture reported significant work productivity loss for up to 1 year following injury, according to a presenter at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting.

“Work productivity losses are greatest in the first 6 weeks post-injury,” Gerard Slobogean, MD, MPG, FRCSC, said during his presentation. “By 3 months, the majority do not have any work productivity impairments.”

Slobogean and colleagues evaluated 53 patients (mean age: 48 years) who underwent treatment for isolated distal radius fractures for up to 1 year following the injury. All patients completed the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), DASH and Work Productivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire: Specific Health Problem (WPAI-SHP) surveys. Decreased work productivity was calculated via age- and gender-adjusted median incomes in 2008 Canadian dollars.

Overall, 38 patients (72%) remained employed throughout the course of their injury and rehabilitation. At a respective 2 weeks and 6 weeks after injury, median work productivity loss was 54% and 20%. Although this figure reached 0% at 3 months after injury, 28% and 21% of patients reported some work productivity loss at the 6-month and 1-year follow-up, respectively. On average, societal cost stemming from lost work productivity due to a distal radius fracture was estimated as $3,317 per patient, which totaled approximately 7% of the patients’ annual salary.

Although DASH and EQ-5D values significantly dropped from baseline levels (3 and 0.95, respectively) after injury, they returned to similar levels (9.9 and 0.9, respectively) at final follow-up. Most (64%) of fractures were treated without surgical intervention, though patients who were employed were more likely to have surgical intervention than those who were unemployed, according to the researchers. – by Christian Ingram

Reference:

Slobogean G, et al. Paper #580. Presented at: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting. March 24-28, 2015; Las Vegas.

Disclosure: Slobogean reports no relevant financial disclosures.