REHABILITATION AND REINTEGRATION OF MULTI PLE TRAUMA PATIENT THERAPY

In this randomized study we attempt to verify treatment results, rehab ilitation and social reintegration of multiple trauma patients. Two to 4 years after the accident a clinical follow-up examination was carri ed out on 104 multiple trauma patients with an average age of 29.5 yea rs who had 7.7 single injuries. Patients with injuries of the central nervous system still showed neurological disorders in 32%. The initial ly determined Glasgow Coma Scale did not correlate with the long-term prognosis of neurological disorders. Only 4 of 38 thoracic injuries ha d functional disorders - these patients had required long-term ventila tion therapy (> 3 weeks). Former abdominal injuries showed no objectiv e disorders in the follow-up. Most of the injuries to the extremities (79.7%) healed without functional disorder. Only patients with lower l imb injuries still had complaints. At the time of the checkup 6.7% had still not been able to work (for more than 24 months) and 26.9% for m ore than 12 months. The disability rate was less than 20% in 64.3%, 7. 2% more than 50% and 9.6% more than 80%. Most of these patients had se vere head injuries. There was a relationship between reintegration at work and the age of the patients: 49.2% of patients younger than 25 ye ars were working in their previous profession, 26.9% had here reeducat ed, and only 7.9% were unemployed. However, in the age group older tha n 25 years, only 29.2% worked in their previous profession and 12.2% h ad been reeducated. This follow-up study shows that in multiple trauma patients reintegration at work and in social life is possible. Medica l and economic reasons seem to justify enormous staff and time outlay and expense.