• Janessa M Graves, Jeanne M Sears, Monica S Vavilala, and Frederick P Rivara.
• Harborview Injury Prevention and Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Washington, UW Box 359960, Seattle, WA 98104 USA. janessa@uw.edu
• J Safety Res. 2013 Jun 1;45:133-9.

ObjectiveThis study describes injury characteristics and costs of work-related traumatic brain injury (WRTBI) among 16-24 year olds in Washington State between 1998 and 2008.MethodsWRTBIs were identified in the Washington Trauma Registry (WTR) and linked to workers' compensation (WC) claims data. Medical and time-loss compensation costs were compared between workers with isolated TBI and TBI with other trauma.ResultsOf 273 WRTBI cases identified, most (61.5%) were TBI with other trauma. One-third of WRTBI did not link to a WC claim. Medical costs averaged $88,307 (median $16,426) for isolated TBI cases, compared to $73,669 (median $41,167) for TBI with other trauma.ConclusionsResults highlight the financial impact of WRTBI among young workers. Multiple data sources provided a more comprehensive picture than a single data source alone. This linked-data approach holds great potential for future traumatic occupational injury research.Impact On IndustryTBI among young workers not only involves long-term health and psychological impacts, but is costly as well.Copyright © 2013 National Safety Council and Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

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