Professional Impact of Osteoarticular Trauma (IPTO)

Professional Impact of Osteoarticular Trauma: Retrospective Study on Return to Work, Accommodations, and Recognition in the Workplace

This study aims to describe the medical, social, and organizational determinants of returning to work after an osteoarticular injury, particularly limb fractures.

Using observational data, the study will evaluate the modalities of returning to work within 12 months of the injury and analyze the factors influencing professional reintegration, including the severity of the injury, functional recovery, pain, professional characteristics, workplace accommodations, and administrative support measures such as recognition of disabled worker status.

The study will also explore the point at which the issue of returning to work is first raised with the patient during hospitalization, a period during which professional reintegration is often insufficiently anticipated. By identifying current practices and breaking points, this study aims to improve understanding of the pathways to returning to work in the context of the healthcare system and the world of work in France.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Rehabilitation; Return to Work; Vocational Rehabilitation; Disabled Persons; Occupational Health/Medicine; Work Capacity Evaluation

Detailed Description

Osteoarticular trauma, particularly limb fractures, is a major public health problem and frequently affects young people of working age. These injuries often result in prolonged interruption of professional activity and significant socioeconomic consequences. Returning to work is a key step in the rehabilitation process after trauma, but it is influenced by a wide range of medical, social, and organizational factors.

Medical determinants include the severity of the injuries, functional limitations, pain, and long-term sequelae. In addition, professional and social factors such as the type of job, employer support, the possibility of workplace accommodations, and administrative procedures related to disability recognition can strongly influence the terms of return to work. Beyond clinical recovery, the organization of care pathways and coordination with occupational health services also play a decisive role in professional reintegration.

This observational study aims to describe the pathways to return to work after osteoarticular trauma in the French context. It will assess the rate of return to work within 12 months of the trauma, as well as the time taken to resume professional activity. It will also analyze the medical, social, and professional factors associated with returning to work, including workplace accommodations and the implementation of administrative measures related to disability.

The study will further explore the point at which the issue of return to work is first raised with patients during hospitalization. This period is a critical phase during which professional reintegration is often insufficiently anticipated. By identifying current practices and the timing of these discussions, the study aims to better characterize existing gaps in the early anticipation of professional return.

By providing descriptive data on the determinants of return to work after osteoarticular trauma, this study aims to improve understanding of professional reintegration pathways and guide the development of future strategies that promote earlier anticipation and enhanced coordination of return to work within healthcare systems and the world of work.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 200

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Auriane AS SLAMA; Phone Number: +33607317969 +33 143967556; Email: auriane.slama@ght94n.fr

Study Locations

• France
  • Saint-Maurice, France, 94410
    • Recruiting
    • Hôpitaux Paris Est Val-de-Marne - Service de rééducation orthopédique et traumatologie
    • Contact: Auriane AS SLAMA; Phone Number: +33607317969 +33 143967556; Email: auriane.slama@ght94n.fr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of adult patients of working age who were employed prior to experiencing an osteoarticular trauma, including fractures of the limbs.

Participants were followed at a tertiary hospital center and received care for osteoarticular trauma between June 2021 and June 2024. The study includes patients with available medical records allowing retrospective data extraction, as well as prospective collection of self-reported data through questionnaires, without any modification of standard clinical care.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adults who were treated for osteoarticular trauma at the hospital between June 2021 and June 2024
• Patients who were employed prior to the injury

Exclusion Criteria:

• Death or major disability preventing completion of the questionnaire
• Protected persons
• Refusal to participate or no contact after follow-up
• Patients who were unemployed prior to the trauma

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

1

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Working-Age Adults With Osteoarticular Trauma; This cohort includes adult patients of working age who were employed prior to an osteoarticular trauma and were followed at a tertiary hospital center. Participants experienced osteoarticular trauma, including limb fractures, between June 2021 and June 2024. Data are collected retrospectively from medical records and prospectively through self-administered questionnaires, without any modification of standard care.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Return-to-work rate within 12 months after osteoarticular trauma	Assess the professional impact of osteoarticular trauma by measuring the rate of return to work within 12 months of the trauma.	Up to 12 months after trauma

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Time to return to work after osteoarticular trauma	Duration between the date of osteoarticular trauma and the date of return to work, expressed in days	From inclusion to return to work (up to 12 months)
Workplace accommodations implemented after trauma	Implementation of workplace accommodations following osteoarticular trauma, including job adjustments, modified duties, or adapted working conditions	Within 12 months after trauma, as reported at study inclusion
Recognition of disability status (RQTH)	Implementation of disability recognition status (Reconnaissance de la Qualité de Travailleur Handicapé, RQTH), a French administrative measure allowing access to workplace accommodations and vocational support.	Within 12 months after trauma, as reported at study inclusion
Time to return to work and predictors (hazard ratios)	Time from inclusion to return to work will be measured in months. Time-to-event analysis will be performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. Medical, social, and occupational variables will be evaluated as predictors of time to return to work using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Results will be expressed as hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals.	Up to 12 months after trauma
Timing of return-to-work discussion during hospitalization	Time (in days) from hospital admission to the first discussion regarding return to work with the patient will be recorded during the hospitalization period.	From hospital admission to hospital discharge (up to 30 days).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Hopitaux de Saint-Maurice
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Belot BS Sylvain, PH, Hôpitaux Paris Est Val-de-Marne, service de rééducation et réadaptation des affections du système locomoteur adulte,Saint-Maurice 94410; Study Director: Meriem MA Ait Mamar, MD, Hôpitaux Paris Est Val-de-Marne, service de rééducation et réadaptation des affections du système locomoteur adulte, Saint-Maurice 94410

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Estimated): February 18, 2026
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 2, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 2, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: February 2, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): February 18, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 20, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: IPTO; 2025-A01974-45 (Other Identifier: Agence national de sécurité du médicament et des produits de santé)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO
• IPD Plan Description: Individual participant data will not be shared due to the observational nature of the study, the relatively small sample size, and the inclusion of potentially sensitive medical and occupational information. Data are pseudonymized and protected in accordance with applicable data protection regulations, and no public data-sharing plan is planned.

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No