A Pilot Study On Return-to-Work Following Occupational Replantation Of Amputated Fingers

ObjectiveTo investigate the situation and the main factors that influence return-to-work following occupational replantation of amputated fingers, and to provide the scientific evidence for the intervention strategy to advance the rate of return-to-work.MethodsA cross-section study design was applied to the investigation. Fivety-nine workers suffered replantation of amputated finger were randomly selected from one city general hospital during January 2007 to January 2010. The data of patients were collected from the hospital on their gender, age, censue register, occupation before injury, function of replanted fingers, work-related injury insurance. The patients were interviewed by telephone for information to investigate the situation of return to work. Univariable and logistic analyses were performed for assessing the relationship of influencing factors and return-to-work.ResultsFifty-nine workers were included. Fifty patients returned to work successfully. Gender, age, censue register, occupation before injury, function of replanted fingers, work-related injury insurance were not statistically associated with return-to-work. Whereas the function of replanted fingers was significantly related to the rate of return-to-work.ConclusionsMost of the workers successfully returned to work after the occupational replantation of amputated fingers. The function of replanted fingers seems to be the most predominant factors influencing return-to-work.