Survey on postoperative return to work in patients undergoing orthopedic surgery

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to conduct a survey on postoperative return-to-work (RTW) status and problems related among patients undergoing orthopedic surgery.

Methods: A total of 105 workers who underwent orthopedic surgeries underwent a self-administered survey questionnaire at 6 months after surgery. The questionnaire included questions about patient attributes, RTW status, period for RTW, and problems related to RTW (symptoms or difficulty performing work-related movements when returning to work and reasons for not RTW).

Results: The questionnaire response rate was 63% (66 patients). The rate of RTW was 89% (59 patients). Regarding problems related to RTW, 63% of those who returned to work had symptoms or difficulty performing work-related movements. The most common symptom observed upon RTW was pain (10 patients, 17% of those returning to work). The most common difficulty performing work-related movements was squatting (9 patients, 15% of those returning to work). Five out of 7 respondents indicated that the reasons for not RTW were due to physical problems.

Conclusion: Among the postoperative orthopedic patients, 89% returned to work. However, 63% of those who returned to work had symptoms or difficulty performing work-related movements. More than half of the patients who could not return to work responded that physical problems was the reason behind not returning to work, suggesting the need for considering more effective exercise therapy and guidance focusing on returning to work.