PURPOSE: Upper limb disorders are one of the most common and important types of occupational injuries. Besides, identifying the factors influencing return to work following these injuries is essential to reduce the dimensions of the problem. In this study, we investigated the return to work and associated factors following occupational injuries leading to upper limb impairment. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, the rate of return to work and associated factors were assessed in 256 workers with work-related upper limb injury referred to a teaching hospital from March 2011 to December 2018. The inclusion criterion was a history of occupational injury resulting in upper limb impairment, and exclusion criteria included the presence of simultaneous impairment in other organs, congenital or non-occupational limb defects as well as patients with incomplete information in their medical records. Individuals' records, including age at the time of injury, gender, date of injury, marital status, education, level of amputation and injury, whole person impairment (WPI) and physiotherapy (prescribed by the physician) were reviewed. The WPI was calculated to assess the extent of the injury. All analyzes were performed by SPSS version 25.0. RESULT: The rate of return to work was 54.3%, in which 51.8% for the same job and 48.2% for a new job. The main factors associated with non-return to work were more days off work (p = 0.001), higher injury severity (p = 0.001), and dominant hand injury (p = 0.034). CONCLUSION The number of days off work, the WPI, and dominant hand injury are the most important determinant in returning to work. In addition, increased job satisfaction and support from co-workers and employers are work-related factors that can lead to an increased return to work.
Humans ; Occupational Injuries/etiology* ; Retrospective Studies ; Upper Extremity/injuries* ; Hand Injuries

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Ulna ; injuries ; Wrist Injuries ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

A spontaneous rupture of the extensor pollicis longus (EPL) tendon is associated with rheumatoid arthritis, fractures of the wrist, systemic or local steroids and repetitive, and excessive abnormal motion of the wrist joint. The authors encountered a case of a spontaneous rupture of the EPL tendon. The patient had no predisposing factors including trauma or steroid injection. Although the patient had a positive rheumatoid factor, he did not demonstrate other clinical or radiological findings of rheumatoid arthritis. During surgery, the EPL tendon was found to be ruptured at the extensor retinaculum (third compartment). Reconstruction of the extensor tendon using the palmaris longus tendon was performed. At the 18-month follow-up, the patient showed satisfactory extension of the thumb and 40degrees extension and flexion at the wrist.
Adult ; Cumulative Trauma Disorders/*complications ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases/*complications ; Rupture/etiology/surgery ; Tendon Injuries/*etiology/*surgery

Arm Injuries ; etiology ; Autonomic Pathways ; pathology ; Central Nervous System ; pathology ; China ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; etiology ; Temperature ; Vibration ; adverse effects

Traumatic anterior dislocation of the hip is rare. Bilateral traumatic anterior dislocation is an even rarer injury; indeed, only 5 cases have been reported in the English literature. We describe a case of a bilateral traumatic anterior dislocation of the hip and a concomitant unstable lumbar burst fracture following a mechanism of injury distinctly different from other reports.
*Accidents, Occupational ; Acetabulum/injuries ; Buttocks/*injuries ; Fractures, Bone/complications/etiology/radiography ; Hip Dislocation/etiology/*radiography ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/*injuries ; Lumbosacral Region/*injuries ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fractures/etiology/*radiography

China ; epidemiology ; Disease Notification ; standards ; Epidemiologic Methods ; Humans ; Models, Statistical ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; prevention & control ; Occupational Health Services ; statistics & numerical data ; Registries ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; prevention & control

OBJECTIVETo explore the association between occupational stress and other socio-psychological factors and work-related unintentional injury in off-shore oil production.

METHODSA cross-sectional survey was conducted among 561 Chinese off-shore oil workers. They were inquired with a self-administered questionnaire involving in socio-demographic characteristics, occupational stress, type A behavior personnel, social support and coping style, and work-related unintentional injury in the past year.

RESULTSSeventy-six (13.5%) workers experienced work-related unintentional injury for once time or more in the past year. A total 141 number of person-times were counted including 18 person-times being serious injury, 26 person-times moderate, and 97 person-times light. After adjustment for age, educational level, marital status, duration of off-shore work and job title, logistic regression indicated that perceived stress from "management problem and relationship with others" were significantly associated with work-related unintentional injuries in the past year (OR = 1.33, 95% CI: 1.05-1.68; P < 0.05). Workers lack of emotional support from friends seemed to less reporting on work-related unintentional injuries (OR = 0.37, 95% CI: 0.22-0.63).

CONCLUSIONThe results implied emphasizing on that the training and guidance as well as better cooperation among the workers might reduce work-related unintentional injuries in off-shore oil industry.

Accidents, Occupational ; prevention & control ; statistics & numerical data ; Adult ; Fuel Oils ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; complications ; Stress, Psychological ; complications ; Wounds and Injuries ; etiology ; prevention & control

Adult ; Automobile Driving ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Injuries ; complications ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

Accidents, Occupational ; Acetic Anhydrides ; Adult ; Blast Injuries ; complications ; therapy ; Burns, Inhalation ; etiology ; therapy ; Humans ; Lung Injury ; etiology ; therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged

OBJECTIVETo investigate lifting-related musculoskeletal disorders in metal processing, to analyze the risk factors, and to study the validity and feasibility of using NIOSH lifting equation in China.

METHODSThe questionnaires of semi-structured interview, the Ovako Working Posture Analysing System (OWAS) postural analysis and variables of the NIOSH equation were applied to the study. The study population consisted of 69 workers mainly involved in manual materials handling (MMH), categorized as Job A; and 51 machinery workers, served as controls, that were less MMH task involved, as Job B.

RESULTSThe prevalence of low back pain (LBP), which was defined at least one episode lasting for more than 24 hours in the past 12 months, were 63.8% and 37.3% for Job A and Job B, respectively. However, the prevalence of LBP lasting for more than a week due to lifting were 26.09% and 5.88% for Job A and B, respectively. The proportion of awkward back postures were found higher in Job A than that of Job B (66% vs 63%, P < 0.05). The NIOSH Lifting Index (LI) was estimated to be 2.4 for Job A, and 0 < LI < 1 for Job B. The analysis of multiple regressions revealed that the repetitiveness of lifting and length of service had greatly attributed to the occurrence of LBP. The "composite load" (object weight x activity repetitiveness) had a significant adverse effect on lower back meaning that the objective weight remains an ingredient part of the risk.

CONCLUSIONThe occurrence of LBP is not only related to the force load, but the repetitiveness of lifting and awkward postures. The method of OWAS observation and US-NIOSH equation are important tools in assessing characteristics and risk factors of LBP for MMH tasks. Further study aimed at developing an integral scheme for the assessment system is needed.

Adult ; Back Injuries ; epidemiology ; etiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Metallurgy ; Middle Aged ; Musculoskeletal Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; epidemiology ; etiology ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Time Factors ; Weight Lifting ; injuries