Postoperative Compliance and Return to Work After Rotator Cuff Repair: Value of an Interactive Online Rehabilitation Program Among Patients Treated Under Workers' Compensation.

Abstract

Outcomes after rotator cuff repair (RCR) typically are poorer for workers' compensation (WC) than for patients with private insurance. This study examined augmentation of the traditional rehabilitation protocol with an online exercise program. Between March 2016 and July 2018, 48 WC patients who underwent RCR were introduced to a digital rehabilitation program (application). Patients were divided into patients who used the application along with traditional physical therapy (PT) (group 1) and patients who underwent only traditional PT (group 2). Patient performance was assessed using standardized patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), return-to-work (RTW) status, number of PT sessions, and complication/revision rate. Patients were monitored for a minimum of 1 year postoperatively. A significant improvement in RTW period was noted for group 1 patients, who resumed modified duty 10 weeks earlier than group 2 patients. A positive trend also was noted for return to full duty, with group 1 resuming full duty 7 weeks before group 2. There were no complications or reoperations in group 1 compared with 4 (16%) complications in group 2. The 2 groups underwent the same average number of PT sessions (27 sessions). Patient-reported outcome measures were captured only for group 1, which demonstrated average postoperative improvement of 3 points on a visual analog scale and 32.5 points in American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons scores. Incorporating an online exercise program within the traditional rehabilitation protocol for WC patients undergoing RCR resulted in earlier return to work and was associated with better pain relief, greater return of function, and lower complication rate. [Orthopedics. 2021;44(2):e197-e202.].