The Public Health Impact of Lower Extremity Trauma

Lower extremity injuries have been cited as the most frequent cause of serious disability caused by road traffic accidents. This paper presents the results of a study which examined the long-term consequences and associated costs of lower extremity trauma severe enough to require hospitalization. Results indicate that direct costs associated with lower extremity trauma are significant as evidenced by long hospitalizations and high utilization rates of inpatient and outpatient health and rehabilitative services in the year post-discharge. Furthermore, of individuals in the study who were employed prior to injury, only 56% had returned to work within one year. Implications of these findings for public health interventions are discussed.