Frequency and cost of claims by injury type from a state workers' compensation fund from 1998 through 2008

Abstract

Objective: To determine which work-related injuries are the most frequent and costly.

Design: Secondary analysis of workers' compensation claims data.

Setting: Data were provided by a large, Maryland workers' compensation insurer from 1998 through 2008.

Participants: Not applicable.

Interventions: None.

Main outcomes measures: For 45 injury types, the number of claims and compensation amount was calculated for total compensation and for medical and indemnity compensation separately.

Results: Back and knee injuries were the most frequently occurring single injury types, whereas heart attack and occupational disease were the most expensive in terms of mean compensation. When taking into account both the frequency and cost of injury (mean cost × number occurrences), back, knee, and shoulder injuries were the most expensive single injury types.

Conclusions: Successful prevention and management of back, knee, and shoulder injuries could lead to a substantial reduction in the burden associated with work-related injuries.

Keywords: Back; Health care costs; Knee; Occupational injuries; Rehabilitation; Shoulder; Workers' compensation.