Prediction of prognosis for people off sick with upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders

Using a comprehensive database of more than 8000 workers' compensation claimants (3036 with upper extremity disorders) in the province of Alberta, Canada, the researchers showed the expected prognostic importance of generic factors including: age, geographical region, educational attainment, having a job open to return to, comorbidities, prior claims for disability, healthcare usage, availability of modified work, and time between accident and injury on likelihood of needing wage replacement 90 days later.