Severity of disability due to occupational low back injury after lumbar laminectomy for degenerative disc disease

Thirty-two postal workers were rated low risk in preplacement examinations after lumbar laminectomies for degenerative disc disease. They demonstrated an odds ratio for occupational back injury of 5.9 when compared with 192 control subjects matched by age, gender, employment date, and job classification. Each injured employee was subsequently observed for 2 years after injury. Data were collected on time lost from work due to the injury and incidence of surgical treatment. Injured subjects lost a median of 66 and a mean of 292.8 days from work, whereas injured control subjects lost a median of 8.5 and a mean of 24.8 days. Mean time lost per person hired was 73.2 days for subjects compared with 1.6 days for control subjects. Three of eight injured subjects required repeat surgery and three remain totally disabled. No injured control subjects required surgery and all resumed work.