Citation

Bloom B, Thomas S, Ahrensberg JM, Weaver R, Fowler A, Bestwick J, Harris T, Pearse R. Brain Inj. 2018; 32(13-14): 1623-1636.

Affiliation

William Harvey Institute , Queen Mary University of London , London , UK.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/02699052.2018.1532111

PMID

30307758

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of return to work (RTW) times for adult patients with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

METHODS: Six databases and six trials registries were searched. Inclusion: studies reporting RTW, > 30 patients, adults, with mTBI. Exclusion: final measurement RTW < 30 days after injury, first measurement > 1 year.

RESULTS: Of 978 records, 14 eligible studies were identified. Two included patients exclusively in paid employment pre-injury; four included paid employment, students, homemakers or other activities; seven included pre-injury occupational status described but unclear; one included patients whose pre-injury occupational status not described. Three reported average RTW, 12 reported proportions of patients RTW at pre-specified time-points (1 both). Average RTW times varied from 13 to 93 days. At 1 month the proportion of patients RTW (three pooled studies) was 0.56 (95% CI 0.30-0.79), at 6 months (six studies) 0.83 (0.74-0.89), at 12 months (seven studies) 0.89 (0.83-0.93).

CONCLUSION: More than half of patients with mTBI have returned to work by 1 month after injury, and more than 80% by 6 months. Most studies had poor internal validity. Reporting of outcomes in mTBI is variable, and this accounted for some of the heterogeneity found in this review.

Language: en

Keywords

(mild TBI); Mild traumatic brain injury; concussion; employment; return to work; vocational