Navigation auf zora.uzh.ch

Search ZORA

ZORA (Zurich Open Repository and Archive)

Three versus seven days to return-to-work after mild traumatic brain injury: a randomised parallel-group trial with neuropsychological assessment

Studerus-Germann, Aline M; Engel, Doortje C; Stienen, Martin N; von Ow, Dieter; Hildebrandt, Gerhard; Gautschi, Oliver P (2017). Three versus seven days to return-to-work after mild traumatic brain injury: a randomised parallel-group trial with neuropsychological assessment. The International Journal of Neuroscience:1-26.

Abstract

Although most patients with a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) recover within days to weeks, some experience persistent physical, cognitive and emotional symptoms, often described as postconcussion syndrome (PCS). The optimal recovery time including return-to-work (RTW) after mTBI is unclear. In this single-centre parallel-group trial, patients assigned three days (3D-group) or seven days (7D-group) sick leave were compared with a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery including the Post Concussion Symptom Scale (PCSS) within one week, after three and twelve months post-injury. The influence of the effective time until RTW on postconcussional symptoms and cognitive performance was analyzed. The 3D-group rated significantly higher mean scores in some PCSS symptoms, tended to fulfil diagnosis criteria of PCS more often and showed better cognitive performance in several neuropsychological test scores than the 7D-group at all three time-points of follow-up. Overall, patients returned to work 11.35 days post injury, thus distinctly above both recommended sick leaves. There was a trend for longer sick leave in patients randomized into the 3D-group. Further analyses revealed that the group with an absolute RTW within one week showed lower symptom severity in fatigue at three and twelve months, less PCS and faster performance in fine motor speed at twelve months than the group with an absolute RTW after one week. Our data underline the heterogeneity of mTBI and shows that acute and sub-acute symptoms are not prognostic factors for neuropsychological outcome at one year. Later ability to work seems to be prognostic for long-term occurrence of PCS.

Additional indexing

Item Type:Journal Article, refereed, original work
Communities & Collections:04 Faculty of Medicine > University Hospital Zurich > Clinic for Neurosurgery
Dewey Decimal Classification:610 Medicine & health
Scopus Subject Areas:Life Sciences > General Neuroscience
Language:English
Date:2 January 2017
Deposited On:02 Feb 2017 08:31
Last Modified:16 Sep 2024 01:35
Publisher:Informa Healthcare
ISSN:0020-7454
OA Status:Green
Publisher DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00207454.2017.1278589
PubMed ID:28042930
Download PDF  'Three versus seven days to return-to-work after mild traumatic brain injury: a randomised parallel-group trial with neuropsychological assessment'.
Preview
  • Content: Accepted Version

Metadata Export

Statistics

Citations

Dimensions.ai Metrics
9 citations in Web of Science®
11 citations in Scopus®
Google Scholar™

Altmetrics

Downloads

476 downloads since deposited on 02 Feb 2017
59 downloads since 12 months
Detailed statistics

Authors, Affiliations, Collaborations

Similar Publications