Return to work and social adjustment after traumatic head injury.

During follow-up of 485 adult patients with mainly mild head injury 27% of the patients were unemployed after an observation period of 3-5 years (mean 4.0 years). The length of sick leave during the last 3 years was longer than for a control group. Reduced physical capacity and time of sick leave during the last 3 years were the variables which were most closely associated with unemployment at follow-up. The long term family life, contact with friends and income were less favourable in the head injured patients than in the control group.