A. GENERAL FACTORS
Some important factors that may influence duration of disability include:
Psychological Factors
- motivation to return to work
- attitude of employer towards employee
- availability of co-worker to help out
- pre-existing psychological condition(s)
- prior experience with injury/illness
Age
- age may contribute to the course/progress of recovery/healing
Complications
- medical complications resulting from the primary condition and/or subsequent therapeutic procedures
Medication
- medications can restrict the type of work an individual can safely perform
Individual Variation
There may be different durations of disability among workers with the same injury/illness or undergoing the
same procedure because of:
- severity of the condition
- individual response to treatment
- the course of recovery
- late diagnosis
- whether treatment is medical or surgical
- presence of pre-existing or incidental condition(s)
B. FRACTURES
Factors that may influence duration of disability:
- age
- the specific fracture
- the stability of the fracture
- direction and degree of displacement
- degree of comminution
- extent of articular damage
- severity of associated soft tissue injury (nerves, blood vessls, tendons and ligaments)
- promptness, method and adequacy of treatment
- duration of immobilization
- presence of complications
- surgical treatment
- life style/occupational requirements
- pre-existing or incidental condition(s) e.g. osteoporosis
C. DISLOCATIONS
Factor that may influence duration of disability:
- which joint is involved
- direction and degree of displacement
- severity of associated damage to ligaments, tendons, or articular surfaces
- neurovascular damage
- type and promptness of treatment
- life style/occupational requirements
- pre-existing or incidental condition(s)
D.SPRAINS AND STRAINS
Factor that may influence duration of disability:
- severity of the injury
- location
- need for surgical repair
- timing of surgical repair
- promptness of treatment
- life style/occupational requirements
- pre-existing or incidental condition(s)
E.AMPUTATIONS
Factors that may influence duration of disability:
- an underlying disease process
- the particular limb or digit amputated
- whether dominant or non-dominant hand/arm is involved
- complications
- life style/occupational requirements
- pre-existing or incidental condition(s)
F.PROCEDURES
Factors that may influence duration of disability:
- the condition for which the procedure is done
- whether dominant or non-dominant hand/arm is involved
- complications
- joint involved
- lifestyle/occupational requirements
- pre-existing or incidental condition(s)
