Introduction
The Saskatchewan WCB uses these guidelines to determine which workers might require additional case management and/or medical services to reach maximum recovery and return to work.

Recovery Time
Many factors influence recovery time, i.e. psychosocial considerations, age, associated medical conditions, complications, and treatment including surgery and medications. It is important that these are taken into account when using these guidelines. Refer to Factors Influencing Duration of Disability section for more information.

Return to Work
The guidelines give an estimate of the approximate time required for workers to return to work after various work-related injuries and treatments. It should be emphasized that:

• the maximum time given is not necessarily a definite RTW date, but rather the time when questions should be asked as to why the worker has not returned to work.
• The questions may be answered by medical reporting, discussion with the treating physician or it may be necessary to attend an independent assessment team review.
• These guidelines are specific to the injured part (e.g. fracture, tendon rupture, etc.) yet take into account that the worker need not lose time away from work if modified or alternate job duties are available or work duties may be safely performed using uninjured limbs, without compromising treatment.

Permanent Functional Impairment (PFI)
With respect to PFI, the following terms are utilized in the Guidelines:

Term	Definition
Not anticipated	Complete recovery anticipated
Possible	Injury may result in some assessable impairment depending on case.
Expected	PFI anticipated or scheduled

This material is copyright by, and used with the permission of, The Workers' Compensation Board of Alberta (c) 1996. All rights reserved. These guidelines were prepared from the following sources:

• The Medical Disability Advisor - Workplace Guidelines for Disability Duration by Presley Reed, M.D., Second Edition, 1994. This resource is the industry standard, supported by occupational health and safety associations in United State and Canada.
• External clinical experience
• Alberta WCB experience.

No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed or statutory, including, but not limited to, the warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose is given with respect to the contents of the Guidelines.