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Reverse Total Shoulder Arthroplasty
Published on: July 5, 2011
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Factors affecting return to work following arthroscopic rotator cuff repair
Ivan Perez Kalejman1, Ignacio Pasqualini1, Catalina Larrague1
1Hospital Italiano de Buenos Aires, Investigation Performed at the Shoulder Unit Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Shoulder & Elbow
|November 18, 2024
Summary
Nearly all patients resume work after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR). However, heavy manual labor and workers' compensation significantly delay return to work, impacting recovery timelines.
Area of Science:
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Occupational Health
- Rehabilitation Medicine
Background:
- Prolonged work absence after arthroscopic rotator cuff repair (ARCR) is a significant concern.
- Factors influencing return to work (RTW) post-ARCR are not well understood.
- Understanding RTW determinants is crucial for patient recovery and occupational reintegration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the proportion of patients who successfully return to equivalent occupational demands after ARCR.
- To identify factors affecting the time taken for return to work post-ARCR.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 83 patients who underwent ARCR.
- Data collection included work intensity and worker's compensation status.
- Patient interviews at ≥12 months post-surgery assessed RTW rate and timing.
Main Results:
- 98.8% of patients returned to work at a median of 8 weeks.
- Heavy manual labor significantly delayed RTW compared to light work (HR 0.15).
- Worker's compensation status was associated with delayed RTW (HR 0.26).
Conclusions:
- Almost all patients return to work after ARCR.
- High-intensity manual labor and worker's compensation are significant predictors of delayed RTW.
- Patients in physically demanding jobs or receiving compensation face a substantially lower likelihood of timely RTW.
