Frequency and Cost of Claims by Injury Type from a State Workers' Compensation Fund, 1998-2008. | Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Mroz M, Carlini AR, Archer KR, Wegener ST, Hoolachan JI, Stiers W, Shore RA, Castillo RC. Frequency and Cost of Claims by Injury Type from a State Workers' Compensation Fund, 1998-2008. Archives of physical medicine and rehabilitation. 2014 Jan 27. PMID: 24480333 [PubMed]

Abstract

Objective

To determine which work-related injuries are the most frequent and costly.

Design

Secondary analysis of workers' compensation claims data.

Setting

Data was provided by a large, Maryland workers' compensation insurer from 1998 through 2008.

Interventions

None MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURES: For 45 injury types, the number of claims and compensation amount were calculated for total compensation as well as for medical and indemnity compensation separately.

Results

Back and knee injuries were the most frequently occurring single injury types, while heart attack and occupational disease were the most expensive in terms of mean compensation. When taking into account both the frequency and cost per of injury (mean cost*number occurrences), back, knee, and shoulder injuries were the most expensive single injury types.

Conclusion

Successful prevention and management of back, knee, and shoulder injuries could lead to a substantial reduction in the burden associated with work-related injuries.