The Nature and Cost of Readmissions after Work-Related Traumatic Spinal Injuries in New South Wales, Australia.

Publisher: MDPI Country of Publication: Switzerland NLM ID: 101238455 Publication Model: Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1660-4601 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 16604601 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Int J Environ Res Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Original Publication: Basel : MDPI, c2004-

Accidents, Occupational* ; Patient Readmission*; Spinal Injuries/*complications ; Spinal Injuries/*epidemiology; Adult ; Aged ; Cohort Studies ; Critical Care ; Female ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; New South Wales ; Patient Discharge ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

This study aimed to measure the subsequent health and health service cost burden of a cohort of workers hospitalised after sustaining work-related traumatic spinal injuries (TSI) across New South Wales, Australia. A record-linkage study (June 2013-June 2016) of hospitalised cases of work-related spinal injury (ICD10-AM code U73.0 or workers compensation) was conducted. Of the 824 individuals injured during this time, 740 had sufficient follow-up data to analyse readmissions ≤90 days post-acute hospital discharge. Individuals with TSI were predominantly male (86.2%), mean age 46.6 years. Around 8% ( n = 61) experienced 119 unplanned readmission episodes within 28 days from discharge, over half with the primary diagnosis being for care involving rehabilitation. Other readmissions involved device complications/infections (7.5%), genitourinary or respiratory infections (10%) or mental health needs (4.3%). The mean ± SD readmission cost was $6946 ± $14,532 per patient. Unplanned readmissions shortly post-discharge for TSI indicate unresolved issues within acute-care, or poor support services organisation in discharge planning. This study offers evidence of unmet needs after acute TSI and can assist trauma care-coordinators' comprehensive assessments of these patients prior to discharge. Improved quantification of the ongoing personal and health service after work-related injury is a vital part of the information needed to improve recovery after major work-related trauma.

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Keywords: complications; cost; record linkage data; rehabilitation; spinal trauma; unmet needs; unplanned readmissions; work-related injuries

Date Created: 20190501 Date Completed: 20191114 Latest Revision: 20200309

20240513

PMC6539456

10.3390/ijerph16091509

31035444