The Epidemiology, Cost, and Occupational Context of Spinal Injuries Sustained While 'Working for Income' in NSW: A Record-Linkage Study.

Sharwood, LN; Mueller, H; Ivers, RQ; Vaikuntam, B; Driscoll, T; Middleton, JW

The Epidemiology, Cost, and Occupational Context of Spinal Injuries Sustained While 'Working for Income' in NSW: A Record-Linkage Study.

Sharwood, LN Mueller, H Ivers, RQ Vaikuntam, B Driscoll, T Middleton, JW

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Publisher:: MDPI
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018, 15, (10), pp. E2121
Issue Date:: 2018-09-27

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Sharwood, LN
dc.contributor.author	Mueller, H
dc.contributor.author	Ivers, RQ
dc.contributor.author	Vaikuntam, B
dc.contributor.author	Driscoll, T
dc.contributor.author	Middleton, JW
dc.date.accessioned	2023-02-16T00:55:10Z
dc.date.available	2018-09-23
dc.date.available	2023-02-16T00:55:10Z
dc.date.issued	2018-09-27
dc.identifier.citation	Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2018, 15, (10), pp. E2121
dc.identifier.issn	1661-7827
dc.identifier.issn	1660-4601
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/166180
dc.description.abstract	This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics, the occupational context, and the cost of hospitalised work-related traumatic spinal injuries, across New South Wales, Australia. A record-linkage study of hospitalised cases of work-related spinal injury (ICD10-AM code U73.0 or workers compensation) was conducted. Study period 2013⁻2016. Eight hundred and twenty-four individuals sustained work-related spinal injuries; 86.2% of whom were males and had a mean age of 46.6 years. Falls led to 50% of the injuries; predominantly falls from building/structures, ladders or between levels. Falls occurred predominantly in the construction industry (78%). Transport crashes caused 31% of injuries and 24% in heavy vehicles. Half of all the transport injuries occurred 'off road'. The external cause was coded as 'non-specific work activity' in 44.5% of cases; missing in 11.5%. Acute care bed days numbered at 13,302; total cost $19,500,000. High numbers of work-related spinal injuries occurred in the construction industry; particularly falling from a height. Off-road transport-related injuries were significant and likely unaddressed by 'on-road' prevention policies. Medical record documentation was insufficient in injury mechanism and context specificity. Workers in the construction industry or those using vehicles off-road were at high risk of spinal injury, suggesting inefficient systems approaches or ineffective prevention policies. Reducing the use of non-specific external cause codes in patients' medical records would improve the measurement of policy effectiveness.
dc.format	Electronic
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	MDPI
dc.relation.ispartof	Int J Environ Res Public Health
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.3390/ijerph15102121
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.subject.classification	Toxicology
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Construction Industry
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Injuries
dc.subject.mesh	Spinal Injuries
dc.subject.mesh	Workers' Compensation
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Humans
dc.subject.mesh	Spinal Injuries
dc.subject.mesh	Accidental Falls
dc.subject.mesh	Adolescent
dc.subject.mesh	Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Middle Aged
dc.subject.mesh	Workers' Compensation
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales
dc.subject.mesh	Female
dc.subject.mesh	Male
dc.subject.mesh	Young Adult
dc.subject.mesh	Construction Industry
dc.subject.mesh	Occupational Injuries
dc.title	The Epidemiology, Cost, and Occupational Context of Spinal Injuries Sustained While 'Working for Income' in NSW: A Record-Linkage Study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	15
utslib.location.activity	Switzerland
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Engineering and Information Technology/School of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-02-16T00:55:00Z
pubs.issue	10
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	15
utslib.citation.issue	10

Abstract:

This study aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics, the occupational context, and the cost of hospitalised work-related traumatic spinal injuries, across New South Wales, Australia. A record-linkage study of hospitalised cases of work-related spinal injury (ICD10-AM code U73.0 or workers compensation) was conducted. Study period 2013⁻2016. Eight hundred and twenty-four individuals sustained work-related spinal injuries; 86.2% of whom were males and had a mean age of 46.6 years. Falls led to 50% of the injuries; predominantly falls from building/structures, ladders or between levels. Falls occurred predominantly in the construction industry (78%). Transport crashes caused 31% of injuries and 24% in heavy vehicles. Half of all the transport injuries occurred 'off road'. The external cause was coded as 'non-specific work activity' in 44.5% of cases; missing in 11.5%. Acute care bed days numbered at 13,302; total cost $19,500,000. High numbers of work-related spinal injuries occurred in the construction industry; particularly falling from a height. Off-road transport-related injuries were significant and likely unaddressed by 'on-road' prevention policies. Medical record documentation was insufficient in injury mechanism and context specificity. Workers in the construction industry or those using vehicles off-road were at high risk of spinal injury, suggesting inefficient systems approaches or ineffective prevention policies. Reducing the use of non-specific external cause codes in patients' medical records would improve the measurement of policy effectiveness.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/166180