The burden of traumatic brain injury among adolescent and young adult workers in Washington State

Objective: This study describes injury characteristics and costs of work-related traumatic brain injury (WRTBI) among 16-24 year olds in Washington State between 1998 and 2008. Methods: WRTBIs were identified in the Washington Trauma Registry (WTR) and linked to workers' compensation (WC) claims data. Medical and time-loss compensation costs were compared between workers with isolated TB! and TBI with other trauma. Results: Of 273 WRTBI cases identified, most (61.5%) were TBI with other trauma. One-third of WRTBI did not link to a WC claim. Medical costs averaged $88,307 (median $16,426) for isolated TBI cases, compared to $73,669 (median $41,167) for TBI with other trauma. Conclusions: Results highlight the financial impact of WRTBI among young workers. Multiple data sources provided a more comprehensive picture than a single data source alone. This linked-data approach holds great potential for future traumatic occupational injury research. Impact on Industry: TBI among young workers not only involves long-term health and psychological impacts, but is costly as well. (C) 2013 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.