The relationship between compensable status and long-term patient outcomes following orthopaedic trauma

Abstract

Objective: To determine the relationship between compensable status in a "no-fault" compensation scheme and long-term outcomes after orthopaedic trauma. Design and setting: Prospective cohort study within two adult Level 1 trauma centres in Victoria, Australia. Participants: Blunt trauma patients aged 18-64 years, admitted between September 2003 and August 2004 with orthopaedic injuries and funded by the no-fault compensation scheme for transport-related injury, or deemed non-compensable. Main outcome measures: 12-item Short Form Health Survey (SF-12)and return to work or study at 12 months after injury. Results: Of 1033 eligible patients, 707 (68.8%) provided follow-up data; 450 compensable..