"Do You Need a Doctor's Note?" Factors Leading to Delayed Return to Work after Blunt Chest Trauma.

Background: Blunt chest trauma is associated with significant morbidity, but the long-term functional status for these patients is less well-known. Return to work (RTW) is a benchmark for functional recovery in trauma patients, but minimal data exist regarding RTW following blunt chest trauma.

Materials And Methods: Patients ≥ 18 y old admitted to a Level 1 trauma center following blunt chest trauma with ≥ 3 rib fractures and length of stay (LOS) ≥ 3 d were included.

Does Level of Blood Alcohol Content Affect Clinical Outcomes After Trauma in Older Adult Patients?

Introduction: Preinjury alcohol use and older age have independently been associated with poor outcomes. This study examined whether higher levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC) correlated with an increased likelihood of poor outcomes in older trauma patients.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study of injured patients ≥65 years with BAC testing presenting to a Level 1 trauma center between 2015 and 2018.