PURPOSE: Ankle fractures, one of the most common types of orthopaedic injury, have been associated with reduced functional outcome and significant changes in long-term employment. Although information on unemployment following ankle fractures can be important in cases of financial compensation, no studies have investigated rates of short-term disability and employment status among patients who have suffered isolated ankle fractures in the US. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 573 medical charts for patients who were treated for ankle fractures in the last 3 years at a level I trauma center. A total of 83 non-elderly patients that had isolated ankle fractures were contacted and surveyed over the phone. Patients were asked about employment history and current status, disability, type of fracture, and demographic information. RESULTS: Fifty-three (62%) patients contacted were employed at the time of injury. In all, 34% (n = 18) of patients lost their job because of their injury, of which only 8 (44%) received new employment. A total of 15% (n = 8) of patients that were previously employed decided to no longer return to work. Ten patients (56%) received disability status. CONCLUSIONS: Ankle fracture patients are likely to suffer high rates of unemployment or disability shortly after their injury. Further investigations with a larger-scale, randomized patient population can provide important information on employment status following ankle fractures.
PURPOSE:Ankle fractures, one of the most common types of orthopaedic injury, have been associated with reduced functional outcome and significant changes in long-term employment. Although information on unemployment following ankle fractures can be important in cases of financial compensation, no studies have investigated rates of short-term disability and employment status among patients who have suffered isolated ankle fractures in the US. METHOD: We retrospectively reviewed 573 medical charts for patients who were treated for ankle fractures in the last 3 years at a level I trauma center. A total of 83 non-elderly patients that had isolated ankle fractures were contacted and surveyed over the phone. Patients were asked about employment history and current status, disability, type of fracture, and demographic information. RESULTS: Fifty-three (62%) patients contacted were employed at the time of injury. In all, 34% (n = 18) of patients lost their job because of their injury, of which only 8 (44%) received new employment. A total of 15% (n = 8) of patients that were previously employed decided to no longer return to work. Ten patients (56%) received disability status. CONCLUSIONS:Ankle fracturepatients are likely to suffer high rates of unemployment or disability shortly after their injury. Further investigations with a larger-scale, randomized patient population can provide important information on employment status following ankle fractures.
Authors: Maxim Privalov; Benedict Swartman; Nils Beisemann; Jan El Barbari; Jochen Franke; Paul Alfred Grützner; Sven Vetter Journal: Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg Date: 2021-06-17 Impact factor: 3.693
Authors: Sven Y Vetter; Maxim Privalov; Nils Beisemann; Benedict Swartman; Holger Keil; Joachim Kirsch; Paul Alfred Grützner; Jochen Franke Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-05-31 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jessica C Böpple; Michael Tanner; Sarah Campos; Christian Fischer; Sebastian Müller; Sebastian I Wolf; Julian Doll Journal: J Foot Ankle Res Date: 2022-01-08 Impact factor: 2.303
Authors: M A C Van Son; J De Vries; W Zijlstra; J A Roukema; T Gosens; M H J Verhofstad; B L Den Oudsten Journal: Qual Life Res Date: 2017-08-01 Impact factor: 4.147