“ Our study shows that the healthcare system needs to be more aware of the patients who do not recover fully and examine what support they need.”
Issue 35.2 SPRING 2026
The researchers categorised the severity of the TBIs into three groups based on the type of hospitalisation required:
• The person presented to the emergency ward and / or was admitted for observation for 1-2 days.
• The injury required more than two days in hospital.
• The injury required neurosurgery.
Greater probability of work disability All three groups had a higher probability of work disability compared to people without a TBI. During the five-year period, 45 – 72 per cent of the people with a TBI had had at least one period of work disability.
In the group without a TBI, the corresponding figure was 26 per cent.
In the case of more severe TBI, the probability of work disability was high immediately after the injury, while in the milder cases this risk increased more gradually during the follow-up period.
“ We could see that even people with milder injuries had an increased risk of work disability and that it did not necessarily happen directly after the injury; it could also happen later. This may be due to the person returning to work, but when challenges arise later on, the person realises that they are unable to function as they did before the injury,” says Andrea Klang, doctoral student, specialist in rehabilitation medicine and the study’ s lead author.
Higher age a factor in work disability In all groups, being older carried an increased risk of work disability. In all groups, except those with the most severe TBI, it was found that people with psychiatric disorders or who had had periods of work disability before their TBI were more likely to transition to work disability following the TBI.
“ Our study shows that the healthcare system needs to be more aware of the patients who do not recover fully and examine what support they need. They may also need support for a longer period of time – not just directly after the injury,” says Andrea Klang. g
“ Our study shows that the healthcare system needs to be more aware of the patients who do not recover fully and examine what support they need.”
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