Returning to Work Within Two Years After First-Time, Single-Level, Simple Lumbar Discectomy: A Multifactorial, Predictive Model

Effects of Workload on Return to Work After Elective Lumbar Spine Surgery

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective analysis was performed of a multi-center Canadian Spine Outcomes and Research Network (CSORN) surgical database.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the rate and time to return to work (RTW) based on workload intensity after elective degenerative lumbar spine surgery.

METHODS

Patients working pre-operatively, aged greater than 18, who underwent a primary one- or two-level elective lumbar spine surgery for degenerative conditions between January 2015 and October 2020 were evaluated. The percentage of patients who returned to work at 1 year and the time to RTW post-operatively were analyzed based on workload intensity.

RESULTS

Of the 1290 patients included in the analysis, the overall rate of RTW was 82% at 1 year. Based on workload there was no significant difference in time to RTW after a fusion procedure, with median time to RTW being 10 weeks. For non-fusion procedure, the sedentary group had a statistically significantly quicker time to RTW than the light-moderate (P < .005) and heavy-very heavy (<.027) groups.

CONCLUSIONS

The rate of RTW ranged between 84% for patients with sedentary work to 77% for patient with a heavy-very heavy workload. Median time to resumption of work was about 10 weeks following a fusion regardless of work intensity. There was more variability following non-fusion surgeries such as laminectomy and discectomy reflecting the patient's job demands.

Prospects of returning to work after lumbar spine surgery for patients considering disability pension: a nationwide study based on data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery

OBJECTIVES

To assess the odds for not returning to work (non-RTW) 1 year after treatment among patients who had applied for or were planning to apply for disability pension (DP-applicant) prior to an operation for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine.

METHODS

This population-based cohort study from the Norwegian Registry for Spine surgery included 26 688 cases operated for degenerative disorders of the lumbar spine from 2009 to 2020. The primary outcome was RTW (yes/no). Secondary patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) were the Oswestry Disability Index, Numeric Rating Scales for back and leg pain, EuroQoL five-dimension and the Global Perceived Effect Scale. Logistic regression analysis was used to investigate associations between being a DP-applicant prior to surgery (exposure), possible confounders (modifiers) at baseline and RTW 12 months after surgery (outcome).

RESULTS

The RTW ratio for DP-applicants was 23.1% (having applied: 26.5%, planning to apply 21.1%), compared with 78.6% among non-applicants. All secondary PROMs were more favourable among non-applicants. After adjusting for all significant confounders (low expectations and pessimism related to working capability, not feeling wanted by the employer and physically demanding work), DP-applicants with under 12 months preoperative sick leave had 3.8 (95% CI 1.8 to 8.0) higher odds than non-applicants for non-RTW 12 months after surgery. The subgroup having applied for disability pension had the strongest impact on this association.

CONCLUSION

Less than a quarter of the DP-applicants returned to work 12 months after surgery. This association remained strong, also when adjusted for the confounders as well as other covariates related RTW.

Predictors of Recovery Following Lumbar Microdiscectomy for Sciatica: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

Chronic post-surgical pain is reported by up to 40% of patients after lumbar microdiscectomy for sciatica, a complaint associated with disability and loss of productivity. We conducted a systematic review of observational studies to explore factors associated with persistent leg pain and impairments after microdiscectomy for sciatica. We searched eligible studies in MEDLINE, Embase, and CINAHL that explored, in an adjusted model, predictors of persistent leg pain, physical impairment, or failure to return to work after microdiscectomy for sciatica. When possible, we pooled estimates of association using random-effects models using the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation approach. Moderate-certainty evidence showed that the female sex probably has a small association with persistent post-surgical leg pain (odds ratio (OR) = 1.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.63 to 2.08; absolute risk increase (ARI) = 1.8%, 95% CI = -4.7% to 11.3%), large association with failure to return to work (OR = 2.79, 95% CI = 1.27 to 6.17; ARI = 10.6%, 95% CI = 1.8% to 25.2%), and older age is probably associated with greater postoperative disability (β = 1.47 points on the 100-point Oswestry Disability Index for every 10-year increase from age (>/=18 years), 95% CI = -4.14 to 7.28). Among factors that were not possible to pool, two factors showed promise for future study, namely, legal representation and preoperative opioid use, which showed large associations with worse outcomes after surgery. The moderate-certainty evidence showed female sex is probably associated with persistent leg pain and failure to return to work and that older age is probably associated with greater post-surgical impairment after a microdiscectomy. Future research should explore the association between legal representation and preoperative opioid use with persistent pain and impairment after microdiscectomy for sciatica.

Return to Work After Surgery for Cervical Radiculopathy: A Nationwide Registry-based Observational Study

STUDY DESIGN

An observational multicenter study.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Return to work (RTW) is increasingly used to assess the standard, benefit, and quality of health care.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate sick leave patterns among patients undergoing surgery for cervical radiculopathy and identify predictors of successful RTW using two nationwide databases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data from the Norwegian Registry for Spine Surgery (NORspine) and the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Administration were linked on an individual level. We included patients between 18 and 60 years of age registered in NORspine from June 2012 through December 2019 that were temporarily out of the labor force for medical reasons at the time of surgery. We assessed types and grades of sickness benefits before and after surgery and conducted logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Among 3387 patients included in the study, 851 (25.1%) received temporary benefits one year before surgery. The proportion of recipients increased steadily towards surgery. Postoperatively the medical benefit payment decreased rapidly, and half of the patients had already returned to work by four months. The rate of RTW reached a plateau at one year. By the end of the third year, 2429 patients (71.7%) had returned to work. The number of sick days, categorized as 90 or less, during the year before surgery had the most powerful association with RTW at two years (odds ratio: 4.54, 95% CI: 3.42-6.03, P <0.001). Improvement in neck-related disability was the second strongest predictor (odds ratio: 2.17, 95% CI: 1.69-2.78, P <0.001).

CONCLUSION

RTW after cervical radiculopathy surgery occurs primarily during the first year. The strongest predictor of RTW was fewer sick days before surgery. The clinical improvement after surgery had a lesser impact.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

2.

The association between sociodemographic characteristics and the event of undergoing first-time, simple lumbar discectomy: A case-control study

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Educational level and pre-OP sick leave affect the probability of lumbar discectomy.

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Discectomy is more common with low socioeconomic status compared to high status.

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Sociodemographic factors should be noted for their importance in choice of treatment.

Background

In disc herniation, nonsurgical treatments are recommended prior to elective discectomy but are often associated with consultation fees, whereas the discectomy itself may be without user payment. This may affect individual preferences in the choice of treatment. This retrospective case-control study examined the association between socioeconomic characteristics and the event of undergoing a first-time, single-level, simple lumbar discectomy.

Methods

The consecutively formed study population comprised patients undergoing elective lumbar discectomy at a Danish public hospital between 2010 and 2013. A national authority identified three gender- and age-matched controls per case for comparison. Measures investigated in this study were marital status, ethnicity, socioeconomic classification, educational level, the extent of sick leave 52 weeks prior to surgery, personal income, and equivalized disposable household income. All measures were provided by national registries. The associations were examined using uni- and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

Results

In a study population of 888 operated patients (age (SD) 46 (14); ODI (SD) 47 (18); leg pain intensity (VAS) (iqr) 74 (33), EQ-5D (iqr) 0.26 (0.62)) compared to 2664 controls, the probability of undergoing lumbar discectomy was significantly associated with lower vs. higher educational levels ((OR 1.98-2.53), and with periods of sick leave exceeding two weeks within one year prior to surgery (OR 9.47 (95% CI 7.68-11.68)). In the multivariate analysis, the event of undergoing discectomy was insignificantly associated with any other socioeconomic characteristics, whereas the personal income was of significant importance in the univariate analysis.

Conclusion

The event of undergoing free-of-fee elective first-time, single-level, simple lumbar discectomy is more common among individuals with low educational levels and unstable labor market attachment when examined in a case-control study. Being a multifactorial challenge, this calls upon the active engagement of several policy sectors.

A Prospective Observational Study of Return to Work after Single Level Lumbar Discectomy

OBJECTIVE

Lumbar disc herniation (LDH) is a common disease, and lumbar discectomy (LD) is a common neurosurgical procedure. However, there is little previous data on return to work (RTW) after LD. This study investigated the period until the RTW after LD prospectively. Clinically, the pain state at the time of RTW also checked. RTW failure rate 6 months after surgery also investigated.

METHODS

Patients with daily/regular jobs undergoing LD between September 2014 and December 2018 were enrolled. Pain was assessed by the Oswestri Disability Index (ODI) and the Numeric Rate Scale (NRS). Employment type was divided into self-employed, regular and contracted. Monthly telephone interviews were conducted to check RTW status and self-estimated work capability after surgery.

RESULTS

Sixty-seven patients enrolled in this study. Three patients failed to RTW, and three others resigned within 6 months after surgery. The preoperative NRS and ODI were 7.2±1.2 and 22.1±7.9, respectively. The average time to RTW was 5.1±6.0 weeks. At RTW, NRS was 1.5±1.8 and ODI was 6.3±3.9. Amongst patients that successfully returned to work were 16 self-employed workers, 42 regular employees, and three contracted workers. The time to RTW of self-employed, regular, and contracted workers were 5.9±8.8, 4.2±4.3 and 13.3±2.3 weeks, respectively (p=0.011). Thirty-six of the patients that returned to work self-reported a 22.8±15.6% reduction in work capability at 6 months.

CONCLUSION

RTW may vary depending on the employment status. In this study, we found that while employment type may affect the length to RTW, most patients were able to RTW and >40% of patients reported no loss of work capabilities 6 months postoperatively, hopefully alleviating some patient hesitation towards LD.