Musculoskeletal and Rehabilitation Research
Spotlight on the long-term impact of road traffic accidents
Professor Ian Cameron and Dr Annette Kifley
Our researchers at the Kolling Institute have spent close to 20 years assessing the true impact of road traffic injuries and the best way to help people recover well after a crash.
The work, by the team from the John Walsh Centre for Rehabilitation Research, has not only highlighted the lingering effect of road accidents but directly influenced reforms to the CTP injury compensation scheme in NSW. Centre Director Professor Ian Cameron said catastrophic injuries like brain and spinal cord injuries are well recognised, but there is less understanding of the long-term impact following less severe injuries. “From our research, we know that most people recover well in the early months after a less severe road traffic injury, but others struggle to recover and go on to develop chronic health problems, psychological distress and impairment,” he said.
“Our longitudinal studies have shown that long-term challenges like pain and discomfort, and anxiety and depression are common two years after a non-catastrophic road traffic injury, and even in groups where there were no similar problems before the accident.” The findings show that 21 per cent of people reported clinically significant pain two years after their injury, while 25 per cent had depressive symptoms and 9 per cent had ongoing psychological distress. “Just over 80 per cent of people had returned to work on full duties, but that meant close to 20 per cent weren’t able to return to what they were doing before their crash. This represents a significant loss,” said Professor Cameron.
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