Predictive factors for return to work after lumbar discectomy.

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Neurosurgery
• Occupational Health

Background:

• Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of disability and work absence.
• Lumbar discectomy is a common surgical intervention for LBP.
• Understanding return to work post-surgery is crucial for patient recovery and economic impact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the rate of return to work after lumbar discectomy.
• To identify factors associated with returning to work post-surgery.
• To differentiate between returning to previous versus modified work.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 142 patients undergoing lumbar discectomy.
• Data collected included demographics, occupational characteristics, and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI).
• Patients were followed for time off work, return to work status, and job type.

Main Results:

• 79.5% of participants returned to work within 3 months.
• Factors associated with return to previous work included male gender, higher literacy, non-manual jobs, less physical activity, non-smoking, formal agreements, lower working hours, and higher income.
• Shorter preoperative LBP duration, longer hospital stay, lower LBP severity, lower ODI scores, and perceived prognosis also correlated with returning to previous work.

Conclusions:

• Return to work after lumbar discectomy is common, occurring in over two-thirds of patients.
• Key factors influencing return to work include pain intensity and body mass index.
• The decision to return to previous versus modified work is complex and multifactorial.