Return to work following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction

Anssi Arimaa; Jani Knifsund; Heli Keskinen; Mika Kivimäki; Ville Aalto; Tuula Oksanen; Keijo Mäkelä; Jussi Vahtera; Petteri Lankinen

doi:10.2340/17453674.2022.3139

Authors

Anssi Arimaa Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Turku, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Jani Knifsund Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Turku, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2787-3648
Heli Keskinen Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Turku, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2707-2875
Mika Kivimäki Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland; Clinicum, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4699-5627
Ville Aalto Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland
Tuula Oksanen Institute of Public Health and Clinical Nutrition, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
Keijo Mäkelä Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Turku, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland
Jussi Vahtera Department of Public Health, University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Centre for Population Health Research, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital; Turku, Finland
Petteri Lankinen Department of Orthopedics and Traumatology Turku, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland; Satasairaala Central Hospital, Pori, Finland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/17453674.2022.3139

Keywords:

Anterior cruciate ligament injury, anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, Arthroscopy, Knee, Ligament, return to work

Abstract

Background and purpose: Amongst people of working age, the return to work (RTW) after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction is an important marker of success of surgery. We determined when patients are able to return to work after ACL reconstruction and identified factors that are associated with the timing of RTW.
Patients and methods: We used logistic regression analyses to examine patient-related factors that may be associated with the length of RTW (above vs. below the median 59 days) after arthroscopic ACLR in a large cohort of patients working in the public sector in Finland (n = 803; n = 334 male, n = 469 female; mean age 41 years [SD 8.6]).
Results: The mean length of RTW was 65 days (SD 41). Higher odds ratios (OR) were observed for age groups 40–49 and ≥ 50 years compared with ≤ 30 years old (OR 2.0, 95% confidence interval 1.3–3.1 and 2.0, 1.2–3.4, respectively); for lower level non-manual and manual work compared with higher level non-manual work (3.0, 2.0–4.3 and 4.9, 3.4–7.0, respectively); and for those who had been on sick leave > 30 days in the preceding year (2.0, 1.4–2.9). Sex, comorbid conditions, preceding antidepressant treatment and concomitant procedures were not associated with the length of RTW.
Interpretation: Factors associated with prolonged sick leave beyond the median time of 59 days are higher age, lower occupational status, and preoperative sick leaves.