Half of trauma patients never fully recover, expert says
Patients who survive serious accidents face long-term challenges that go beyond physical recovery, according to Mariska de Jongh, newly appointed professor of Acute Care from a Patient Perspective at Tilburg University, AD reports.
De Jongh, who has studied trauma patients for two decades, said roughly half of survivors continue to experience problems, and most never return to their pre-accident level of functioning.
In hospitals, trauma care is highly structured. Emergency personnel and surgeons follow strict protocols. But once patients return home, they often confront practical and psychological challenges. “Patients often have a poor idea of what to expect afterward,” De Jongh told the newspaper.
Current hospital evaluations rely on standard questionnaires, such as pain scales or mobility tests. De Jongh said these measures fail to account for individual lifestyles, hobbies, or work requirements, which can significantly affect recovery and rehabilitation outcomes. “For many people, an accident is a major life event, maybe once in a lifetime. Our medical bubble doesn’t always recognize that,” she said.
De Jongh advocates for early patient-centered communication in hospitals. Nurses should ask about work, family, and hobbies, and digital tools can supplement in-person guidance. She also calls for stronger coordination with community care, social services, and physiotherapists.
She argues that physiotherapy should return to the basic insurance package. “In the short term it costs more, but if you recover faster, you can return to work sooner, which ultimately saves money,” she said.
