AbstractImpairment and disability caused by injury are major public health costs in terms of monetary losses and personal suffering. Currently, there is no satisfactory method of measuring these losses. Impairment is the loss of function after injury healing. The level of impairment depends on the type and severity of injury in conjunction with medical-social factors. An Injury Impairment Scale (IIS) similar to the Abbreviated Injury Scale (AIS) is proposed, with severity codes of 0–6 like the AIS. The criteria of Mobility/Dexterity, Cognitive/Psychological, Cosmetic/ Disfigurement, Sensory, Pain, and Sexual/Reproduction are used for coding impairment resulting from injury. Methods for determining whole body impairment (WBI) are discussed. Use of the highest impairment code on any criterion is suggested at this time to assign WBI. Disability depends on a patient's impairment and ability to accomodate the impairment. Facotrs such as education, past employment, family and community support, and personal and community resources play a role in the patient's ability to accommodate an impairment, fulfill the activities of daily living, socialize, and be productively employed. An Injury Disability Scale (IDS) and method of determining disability from impairment is proposed. Three patient case studies utilizing the proposed coding systems are presented. Validation of the injury impairment and disability scales will require in-depth evaluation by several institutes and medical facilities with large databases that include adequate follow-up examination information. This paper addresses the concepts for injury, impairment, and disability scaling and establishes a framework to undertake injury control research.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Injury impairment and disability scales to assess the permanent consequences of trauma


    Contributors:

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1989-09-10


    Size :

    9 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Predicting permanent physical disability following road-traffic-accident trauma

    Nielsen,H.V. / Nordentoft,E.L. / Odense Univ.Hosp.,Dep.of Orthop.Surg.,DK | Automotive engineering | 1981



    In-Depth Injury Analysis using the National Integrated Accident Data linked to Permanent Disability and Trauma Registration Data in Japan

    Tateishi, K.: Ono, K. / Iwata, H. / Watanabe, H. et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2010



    Permanent Medical Impairment Among Road-Traffic Victims and Risk of Serious Consequences

    Nygren, Ake / Tingvall, Claes / Gustafsson, Hans | SAE Technical Papers | 1986