This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.
Preoperative work status, younger age predicted likelihood of return to work after lumbar discectomy
Investigators of this study found preoperative working status, followed by younger age, was the strongest predictor of working status 3 months postoperatively among patients who underwent lumbar discectomy.
Researchers performed an observational, prospective cohort registry study of 127 patients who underwent single-level lumbar discectomy. The patients’ average age at time of surgery was 46 years. Investigators assessed variables that included age, sex, BMI, SF-36 physical function score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) score, diabetes presence, smoking status, systemic illness, workers’ compensation status and preoperative work status. Working status 3 months following the surgery was the primary outcome. Factors that were predictive of return to work 3 months after the discectomy were determined with stepwise logistic regression analysis.
Findings showed that after discectomy, 66.9% of patients returned to work 3 months postoperatively. Investigators noted patients with a younger age, who were male, had higher preoperative SF-36 physical function scores, lower preoperative ODI scores, were nonsmokers or had worked preoperatively had higher chances of returning to work.
According to researchers, the only statistically significant predictor for postoperative return to work was age after they controlled for patients who worked preoperatively. ‒ by Monica Jaramillo
Disclosures: Than reports no relevant financial disclosures. Please see the full study for a list of all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.