[Return to work after total hip arthroplasty]

Return to work is an important prerequisite to achieve subjective success of an operation. The analysis of the routine data from the German Federal Pension Fund allows a comprehensive evaluation and investigation of factors which influence reintegration into employment.

A random 2 % sample of rehabilitants was drawn from the scientific use file "Abgeschlossene Rehabilitation im Versicherungsverlauf 2002-2009" (completed rehabilitation in the course of health insurance 2002-2009) of the German Federal Pension Fund. Patients were included if they were 18-60 years old and had participated in rehabilitation due to the diagnosis arthritis of the hip. To obtain information on employment status the national insurance contributions and labor force groups in the year before and 2 years after rehabilitation were used. Using regression analysis the influence of sociodemographic factors was analyzed.

Of the 736 patients included in the survey 625 (84.9 %) were employed again 2 years after rehabilitation. Out of these 519 (83.0 %) returned to their previous profession and 228 (36.5 %) paid less insurance contributions. Increasing age and a manual job were identified as risk factors for re-entry into employment.

In Germany a high percentage of 84.9 % of patients return to work after joint replacement due to coxarthrosis. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the social situation becomes worse for approximately one sixth of the patients.