Abstract
Return to work after primary hip-replacement Objectives: The aim of the retrospective study was to determine the rate of restoration of capacity for work after primary hip prosthesis. Method: The study included a total of 56 patients (29 men and 27 women) at an average age of 55.2 (SD 6.6) years who underwent the implant of a unilateral hip joint prosthesis due to coxarthrosis. Results: Preoperatively, 49 (87.5 %) patients had a light (6.1 %), moderate (61.2 %) or heavy (37.7 %) workload. The remaining patients were considered to be looking for work. At the time of the operation, 67.9 % of patients were able to work, 12.5 % were incapacitated for less than 4 weeks, and the remaining patients were incapacitated for more than 4 weeks. Only 30.4 % of patients had no concomitant diseases or obesity. In 42 patients (75.0 %) the ability to work was restored after an average of 13.1 (SD 7.5; 4–48) weeks. Retirement within the first postoperative year occurred in 8.9 % of cases. Overall, 37.2 % of patients switched to easier physical work. The presence of an accompanying disease (p = 0.001), obesity with a BMI > 30 (p = 0.834) or the presence of concomitant morbid obesity (p = 0.411) showed no link in terms of restoring work ability. Overall, a very good result was achieved in 71.4 % of cases and a good result in 26.8 %. However, there was no link between gender, comorbidity or occupational rehabilitation. Conclusions: In the vast majority of patients, it is possible to achieve satisfactory to good professional rehabilitation after implanting a hip prosthesis. Occupational stress factors and social factors in the workplace play a role in rehabilitation. A smaller proportion of patients currently have to accept a reduced physical workload as a precautionary measure. There is a need for more information on probationary periods at work after a hip replacement; this must be systematically collected and linked to actual occupational stress. Keywords: hip osteoarthritis – replacement – return to work
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