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Session Evaluation

AOHC 2026 Concurrent Sessions

Clinical Occupational and Environment Medicine

402 - From Clinic to Claim: Understanding Ankle Injuries in the Workers’ Compensation System

Wednesday, April 22, 2026
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM CT
Location: Chicago Ballroom VIII
Claim 1.0 CME

All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.


Disclosure(s):

Xuguang Tao, MD, PhD: No financial relationships to disclose
Edward J. Bernacki, MD, MPH: No financial relationships to disclose
Nicholas F. Tsourmas, MD: No financial relationships to disclose
Marcos A. Iglesias, MMM, FACOEM, FAAFP: No financial relationships to disclose
Session Description: Ankle injuries are among the most common musculoskeletal conditions reported in the workplace, yet their clinical complexity and downstream impact on workers’ compensation systems remain underappreciated. This session brings together clinical insights and system-level analyses to better understand the burden of work-related ankle injuries and inform strategies for prevention, treatment, and policy.
Topics include:
1. Clinical Profiles of Work-Related Ankle Injuries- highlight demographic and clinical characteristics.
2. Trends in Work-Related Ankle Injuries: Patterns in Injury Types and Treatment Approaches- examine temporal shifts in injury types and management strategies.
3. Predictors of Return-to-Work and Cost in Work-Related Ankle Injuries - explore factors associated with prolonged disability, delayed recovery, and high-cost claims.

Together, these talks will provide a comprehensive view of ankle injuries from the clinic to the claims process, offering evidence-based perspectives for clinicians, researchers, payers, and policymakers engaged in occupational health and workers’ compensation.

Educational Gaps: Clinicians and policymakers lack integrated knowledge on how ankle injuries affect recovery and compensation. Updated data on injury trends and treatment are limited, and predictors of delayed return-to-work and high costs remain unclear.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: No

Has this session previously been presented?: No

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: Work-related ankle injuries are common but carry consequences that extend beyond the clinic, affecting workers’ recovery, productivity, and the overall health of the workforce. This session explores clinical profiles, treatment trends, and predictors of return-to-work and cost, offering insights that bridge medical care with system-level outcomes. By highlighting strategies that promote faster recovery and sustainable return to work, the session supports the theme “Healthy workers. Healthy world”—underscoring how protecting worker health strengthens organizations, communities, and society.

Learning Objectives:

  • Describe the demographic and clinical profiles of workers sustaining ankle injuries and explain how these characteristics influence recovery trajectories.
  • Analyze recent trends in work-related ankle injuries, including shifts in injury type and treatment approaches, and their implications for clinical and occupational health practice.
  • Identify key predictors associated with delayed return-to-work and higher workers’ compensation costs and apply this knowledge to inform early intervention and case management strategies.