Prevalence and factors affecting Return to work of patients post Primary total joint arthroplasty

Abstract

Background: Return to work is defined as the resumption of employment in any capacity after a surgical procedure. Return to work is an essential patient-related outcome measure that has been assessed globally to indicate the success of total joint arthroplasty in patients of working-age. There is no study reporting on return to work after joint arthroplasty in South Africa. Objectives: The primary objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of return to work after total joint replacement at a tertiary health institution in Gauteng, South Africa. The secondary objectives were to determine the time from discharge taken to return to work and the factors associated with return to work. Methods: The study design was a retrospective cohort study with prospective recall. We reviewed 197 patients from local arthroplasty database from 01 January 2017 to 31 December 2022. Patients were telephonically contacted. A p-value of < 0.05 was statistically significant. Results: The prevalence of return to work post primary total joint replacement was 63% (n = 124). The mean time to return to work was 11.57 weeks. Factors that were statistically significant p-value < 0.05 were male sex, total hip arthroplasty, tertiary level of education, professional job status, sedentary job physicality, no post-operative sick leave, and limited number of physiotherapy sessions. Conclusion: Most patients will return to work after total joint arthroplasty. The expected duration to return to work is within 12 weeks. Male sex, total hip arthroplasty, tertiary level education, professional job status and sedentary job physicality are likely to return to work, this is in-keeping with global trends.