• Medical, socio-demographic and work environment questionnaires [ Time Frame: Group A: within 0-3 weeks from referral to occupational therapy treatment and again three months later or at the end of treatment .Group B: half a year after injury. Group C: one year after injury. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• psychosocial questionnaires including: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder questionnaire, McGill Pain Questionnaire, pain belief and self-efficacy questionnaires. [ Time Frame: Group A: within 0-3 weeks from referral to occupational therapy treatment and again three months later or at the end of treatment .Group B: half a year after injury. Group C: one year after injury. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Motor and sensitivity testing : hand grip and pinch strength measurements, Purdue Pegboard Test, Semmes-Weinstein Pressure Monofilaments, upper extremity rang of motion, Pain Visual Analogue Scale. [ Time Frame: within 0-3 weeks from referral to occupational therapy treatment and again three months later or at the end of treatment . ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]
• Disabilities of Arm Shoulder and Hand questionnaire [ Time Frame: Group A: within 0-3 weeks from referral to occupational therapy treatment and again three months later or at the end of treatment .Group B: half a year after injury. Group C: one year after injury. ] [ Designated as safety issue: No ]

The purpose of this study is to investigate the extent of return to work (RTW) after traumatic hand injury and to identify factors that are related to RTW.

RTW is one of the main rehabilitation outcomes after injury, the loss of the ability to work may have psychological as well as economic impact on the injured person. Time off work is also a burden to the economic system, associated with loss of work days, sick leave and national insurance payment. Hand injury can cause limitations in function, therefore influence the ability to work. Review of the literature reveals that time off work after hand injury ranges from a few days to a year and more. Factors associated with time off work include medical, socio-economic and psychosocial factors. Only a few studies have been conducted in Israel to investigate rate of RTW after hand injury and factors that affect RTW . The aim of this study is to explore the extent of RTW after traumatic hand injury and to examine the relationship between several factors - medical, demographic and psychosocial and RTW. This, in order to identify prognostic factors that can be treated during rehabilitation. There is no preliminary hypothesis made about the relationships between the factors and RTW. This study is also retrospective and prospective since it examine individuals under-going occupational therapy treatment and individuals who have been treated in the past.

• Group A - 25 individuals or more, that start occupational therapy and agree to participate in the research.
• Group B- 25 individuals or more, half a year after hand injury that were treated in occupational therapy at the same institute.
• Group C - 25 individuals or more, a year after hand injury that were treated in occupational therapy at the same institute

Inclusion Criteria:

• The individual worked until he/she was injured
• Traumatic hand injury including: wrist fractures, fingers fractures, tendon injury, nerve injury, Crush injury, finger amputation

Exclusion Criteria:

• Non traumatic hand injury (such as CTS)
• Mallet finger
• Burns
• Injury in several organs