Early Injury-Related Predictors of Disability 6 Months After Moderate to Severe Trauma: A Longitudinal Study

Christoph Schäfer (), Håkon Øgreid Moksnes, Mari S. Rasmussen, Torgeir Hellstrøm, Helene Lundgaard Soberg, Olav Røise, Cecilie Røe, Shirin Frisvold, Kristian Bartnes, Pål Aksel Næss, Christine Gaarder, Eirik Helseth, Cathrine Brunborg, Nada Andelic and Audny Anke
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Christoph Schäfer: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Håkon Øgreid Moksnes: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Mari S. Rasmussen: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Torgeir Hellstrøm: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Helene Lundgaard Soberg: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Olav Røise: Norwegian Trauma Registry, Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Cecilie Røe: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Shirin Frisvold: Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
Kristian Bartnes: Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway
Pål Aksel Næss: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Christine Gaarder: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Eirik Helseth: Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, 0316 Oslo, Norway
Cathrine Brunborg: Oslo Centre for Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Research Support Services, Oslo University Hospital, 0317 Oslo, Norway
Nada Andelic: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Oslo University Hospital, 0450 Oslo, Norway
Audny Anke: Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, UiT-The Arctic University of Norway, 9037 Tromsø, Norway

Disabilities, 2025, vol. 5, issue 3, 1-16

Abstract: Trauma often causes long-lasting functional impairment, but the extent varies across populations. This study investigated disability six months after moderate to severe injury and identified sociodemographic and early injury-related predictors, including estimated rehabilitation complexity. Further, we assessed the implementation of direct transfer from acute care in the trauma centre to specialised inpatient rehabilitation, bypassing local hospitals. In this prospective study 398 adults, treated from January 2020 to January 2021 at two Norwegian trauma centres, were included. Self-reported disability was measured using the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule 2.0. Ordinal logistic regression was applied to identify predictors of the 6-month disability outcome. At follow-up, 22% reported no disability, 49% mild/moderate and 29% severe. In multivariable analyses, low education, comorbidities, number of injuries and higher estimated rehabilitation complexity at discharge from acute care were significantly associated with greater disability. Only 20% were transferred directly to specialised inpatient rehabilitation, while 17% went via local hospitals. Participants with orthopaedic injuries and women were less likely to be transferred directly. In summary, most participants experienced some disability at 6 months. Indirect pathways to specialised rehabilitation via local hospitals remained common. Understanding predictors of disability and optimising rehabilitation pathways may improve trauma rehabilitation outcomes, highlighting the need for guidelines that identify patients with high rehabilitation needs.

Keywords: rehabilitation; traumatic injuries; function; cohort study; guidelines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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