Injury Duration Guidelines are a tool for employers. They are helpful to know approximately how long an injured worker may be out of work. It is a way to compare against what the doctor and/or the employee say is the expectation of time out of work. If there is a discrepancy in the what you are told, ask your medical advisor. Many employers do not know that this type of tool exists.
Keep in mind any length of disability depends on many factors such as the severity of the injury and other medical conditions. For example, it may take a person with diabetes much longer to heal, than someone who does not have this condition so check with your medical advisor about lengths of time a person should be out of work.
When using these guidelines as a tool, minimum times equate to clerical, light-duty job. Maximum time-frames are for heavy industrial type jobs. All time-frames are measured in weeks, unless otherwise noted.
AND, you can figure out the potential cost savings by using the Transitional Duty Calculator to see that this can save up to $126,000 enter 21 days X $200/day plus $1,500 replacement costs X 4.5% profit margin. Change the data to your own data. This is an example. Transitional Duty Calculator at www.reduceyourworkerscomp.com/calculator.php
Injury Duration Guidelines-Lower Extremity Injuries
| Type of Injury Lower Extremity | Area #Weeks | Area #Weeks | Area #Weeks | Area #Weeks | Area #Weeks | Area #Weeks |
| Thigh | Knee | Leg | Foot | Ankle | Toes | |
| Abrasion Contusions | 1-2 | 1-2 | 0-1 | 1 | 0-1 | 1 |
| Burns | 1-12 See Note 4 | 1-10 | 1-5 | 1-5 | 0-2 | |
| Dislocation | 1-16 | See Part | 2-4 | 1-5 | 2-4 See Note 5 | |
| Fractures | 8-24 | 6-12 | 5-18 | 1-6 Months | 6-8 | 2 See Note 4 |
| Incisions | 1-15 | 0-1 | 2-6 | 4-6 | 0-3 | 0-3 |
| Lacerations | 2-6 | 0-10 | 1-2 | 2-6 | 0-3 | 1 |
| Punctures | 1-2 | 1-4 | 1-3 | 1-2 | 1-2 | 1-2 |
| Sprains/Strains | 0-1 | 1-4 | See Part | 0-3 | 0-3 | 0-3 |
| Repetitive Motion Tendonitis |
Note 1: Burn healing depends on degree (area and depth)
Note 2: Dislocations and Fractures apply to ribs. Punctures and incisions are those penetrating the thoracic cavity.
Note 3: Punctures and incisions are those penetrating the abdominal cavity.
Note 4: 2nd or 3rd degree, area variable.
Note 5: Total recuperation. However, there may be little disability during that time if walking is minimized.
Note 6: Time for carpal tunnel syndrome is quite variable, in part because factors other than workplace injuries are often involved.
Injury duration timeframes provided by Leslie J. Hutchinson, MD, MPH, FACOEM and Sanford S. Leffingwell, MD, MPH, Board-Certified in Occupational and Preventive Medicine. They can be reached at: 1-770-963-1223 HLM Consultants or [email protected]
WC Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/calculator.php
TD Calculator www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/transitional-duty-cost-calculator.php
WC 101 www.ReduceYourWorkersComp.com/workers_comp.php
Do not use this information without independent verification. All state laws are different. Consult with your corporate legal counsel before implementing any cost containment programs.
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