Do Outcomes Differ After Proximal Hamstring Repair for Patients Receiving Workers' Compensation?

Abstract

Patients with workers' compensation (WC) insurance claims are often shown to experience inferior patient-reported outcomes (PROs) after an orthopaedic surgical intervention compared with patients without WC claims. To compare the postoperative PROs of patients with WC claims (WC patients) versus those without WC claims (non-WC patients) after proximal hamstring repair (PHR). Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. WC patients who underwent PHR between November 2011 and to September 2020 were propensity score matched at a 1:2 ratio to non-WC patients according to age, sex, and body mass index. Comorbidity data were collected as well as minimum 1-year postoperative PRO scores for the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS), the Hip Outcome Score (HOS), and the 12-Item Short From Health Survey (SF-12) Physical Component Summary (PCS) and Mental Component Summary (MCS). The type of work was characterized according to national WC insurance guidelines as light (maximum 20 lbs [9.1 kg]), medium (maximum 50 lbs [22.7 kg]), or heavy (≥50 lbs) [>/=22.7 kg]. A total of 30 patients (10 WC and 20 non-WC) were included. The work type and baseline demographic characteristics of patients did not differ between groups. There were no significant between-group differences in postoperative PRO scores as measured by the LEFS (P = .488), HOS (P = .233), or SF-12 PCS (P = .521). However, the WC cohort showed inferior SF-12 MCS scores compared with the non-WC group (49.28 ± 9.97 vs 54.26 ± 9.69, respectively; P = .032). The WC status was also associated with an increased time needed for patients to return to full-duty work capacity (21 ± 9 vs 9 ± 8 weeks; P = .005). Our findings suggest that WC and non-WC patients who undergo PHR have comparable outcomes. Differences in SF-12 MCS scores and return to work time for full-duty capacity warrant further investigation.