Skip to main content
Key Specialties
Cardiology Diabetology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatrics and Gerontology Gynecology and Obstetrics Hematology Infectious Disease Internal Medicine Nephrology Neurology Oncology Pediatrics Respiratory Medicine Rheumatology Surgery
Congress Coverage
2024 ACC Congress 2023 ESMO Congress 2023 EASD Congress 2023 ERS Congress 2023 ESC Congress
Clinical Collections
Advances in Alzheimer’s

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

LIVE: Thursday 27th June 2024, 18:00-19:30 (CEST)
Join our expert panel to discover why you need to understand the drivers of non-adherence in your patients, and how you can optimize medication adherence in your clinics to drastically improve patient outcomes.
ADVANCED SEARCH
Log in
Top
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation
Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 2/2023

Open Access 09-09-2022

Does Consulting an Occupational Medicine Specialist Decrease Time to Return to Work Among Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients? A 12-Month Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study

Authors: Y. van Zaanen, A. J. Kievit, R. C. I. van Geenen, T. M. J. Pahlplatz, M. J. M. Hoozemans, L. Blankevoort, M. U. Schafroth, D. Haverkamp, T. M. J. S. Vervest, D. H. P. W. Das, V. A. Scholtes, A. J. van der Beek, P. P. F. M. Kuijer

Published in: Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation | Issue 2/2023

Login to get access

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate whether total knee arthroplasty (TKA) patients who consulted an occupational medicine specialist (OMS) within 3 months after surgery, return to work (RTW) earlier than patients who did not consult an OMS.

Methods

A multi-center prospective cohort study was performed among working TKA patients, aged 18 to 65 years and intending to RTW. Time to RTW was analyzed using Kaplan Meier and Mann Whitney U (MWU), and multiple linear regression analysis was used to adjust for effect modification and confounding.

Results

One hundred and eighty-two (182) patients were included with a median age of 59 years [IQR 54–62], including 95 women (52%). Patients who consulted an OMS were less often self-employed but did not differ on other patient and work-related characteristics. TKA patients who consulted an OMS returned to work later than those who did not (median 78 versus 62 days, MWU p < 0.01). The effect of consulting an OMS on time to RTW was modified by patients’ expectations in linear regression analysis (p = 0.05). A median decrease in time of 24 days was found in TKA patients with preoperative high expectations not consulting an OMS (p = 0.03), not in patients with low expectations.

Conclusions

Consulting an OMS within 3 months after surgery did not result in a decrease in time to RTW in TKA patients. TKA patients with high expectations did RTW earlier without consulting an OMS. Intervention studies on how OMSs can positively influence a timely RTW, incorporating patients’ preoperative expectations, are needed.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
1.
Kurtz S, Ong K, Lau E, Mowat F, Halpern M. Projections of primary and revision hip and knee arthroplasty in the United States from 2005 to 2030. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(4):780–5.CrossRefPubMed
2.
Culliford D, Maskell J, Judge A, Cooper C, Prieto-Alhambra D, Arden NK, et al. Future projections of total hip and knee arthroplasty in the UK: results from the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2015;23(4):594–600.CrossRefPubMed
3.
Kuijer PPF, Burdorf A. Prevention at work needed to curb the worldwide strong increase in knee replacement surgery for working-age osteoarthritis patients. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2020;46(5):457–60.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
4.
Pahlplatz TM, Schafroth MU, Kuijer P. Patient-related and work-related factors play an important role in return to work after total knee arthroplasty: a systematic review. J ISAKOS. 2017;2:127–32.CrossRef
5.
6.
Hylkema TH, Stevens M, van Beveren J, Rijk PC, Brouwer RW, Bulstra SK, et al. Recovery courses of patients who return to work by 3, 6 or 12 months after total knee arthroplasty. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;31:627–39.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
7.
8.
Hah JM, Lee E, Shrestha R, Pirrotta L, Huddleston J, Goodman S, et al. Return to work and productivity loss after surgery: a health economic evaluation. Int J Surg. 2021;95:106100.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
9.
Hylkema TH, Brouwer S, Stewart RE, van Beveren J, Rijk PC, Brouwer RW, et al. Two-year recovery courses of physical and mental impairments, activity limitations, and participation restrictions after total knee arthroplasty among working-age patients. Disabil Rehabil. 2020;44:291–300.CrossRefPubMed
10.
Pahlplatz TM, Schafroth MU, Krijger C, Hylkema TH, van Dijk CN, Frings-Dresen M, et al. Beneficial and limiting factors in return to work after primary TKA: patients’ perspective. Work. 2020.
11.
Coole C, Baker P, McDaid C, Drummond A. Using intervention mapping to develop an occupational advice intervention to aid return to work following hip and knee replacement in the United Kingdom. BMC Health Serv Res. 2020;20(1):523.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
12.
van Zaanen Y, van Geenen RCI, Pahlplatz TMJ, Kievit AJ, Hoozemans MJM, Bakker EWP, et al. Three out of ten working patients expect no clinical improvement of their ability to perform work-related knee-demanding activities after total knee arthroplasty: a multicenter study. J Occup Rehabil. 2019;29(3):585–94.CrossRefPubMed
13.
Coutu MF, Gaudreault N, Major ME, Nastasia I, Dumais R, Deshaies A, et al. Return to work following total knee arthroplasty: a multiple case study of stakeholder perspectives. Clin Rehabil. 2021;35(6):920–34.CrossRefPubMed
14.
Abma FI, Brouwer S, de Vries HJ, Arends I, Robroek SJ, Cuijpers MP, et al. The capability set for work: development and validation of a new questionnaire. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2016;42(1):34–42.CrossRefPubMed
15.
16.
Kievit AJ, Kuijer PP, Kievit RA, Sierevelt IN, Blankevoort L, Frings-Dresen MH. A reliable, valid and responsive questionnaire to score the impact of knee complaints on work following total knee arthroplasty: the WORQ. J Arthroplasty. 2014;29(6):1169–75.CrossRefPubMed
17.
Gould R, Ilmarinen J, Järvisalo S, Koskinen S. Dimension of work ability: results of the Health 2000 Survey. Helsinky: Finnish Centre of Pensions, The Social Insurance Institution, National Public Health Institute, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health; 2008.
18.
Stienstra M, Edelaar MJA, Fritz B, Reneman MF. Measurement properties of the work ability score in sick-listed workers with chronic musculoskeletal pain. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;32:103–13.CrossRefPubMed
19.
Verbeek J, Mischke C, Robinson R, Ijaz S, Kuijer P, Kievit A, et al. Occupational exposure to knee loading and the risk of osteoarthritis of the knee: a systematic review and a dose-response meta-analysis. Saf Health Work. 2017;8(2):130–42.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
20.
21.
Twisk JWR. Inleiding in de toegepaste biostatistiek. Amsterdam: Reed Business; 2011.
22.
van Doormaal MCM, Meerhoff GA, Vliet Vlieland TPM, Peter WF. A clinical practice guideline for physical therapy in patients with hip or knee osteoarthritis. Musculoskel Care. 2020;18(4):575–95.CrossRef
23.
Jette DU, Hunter SJ, Burkett L, Langham B, Logerstedt DS, Piuzzi NS, et al. Physical therapist management of total knee arthroplasty. Phys Ther. 2020;100(9):1603–31.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
24.
25.
Kamp T, Brouwer S, Hylkema TH, van Beveren J, Rijk PC, Brouwer RW, et al. Psychosocial working conditions play an important role in the return-to-work process after total knee and hip arthroplasty. J Occup Rehabil. 2021;32:295–305.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
26.
Burdorf A, van der Beek AJ. To RCT or not to RCT: evidence on effectiveness of return-to-work interventions. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2016;42(4):257–9.CrossRefPubMed
27.
Kuijer P, van Haeren MM, Daams JG, Frings-Dresen MHW. Better return to work and sports after knee arthroplasty rehabilitation? Occup Med (Lond). 2018;68(9):626–30.CrossRefPubMed
28.
Coenen P, Hulsegge G, Daams JG, van Geenen RC, Kerkhoffs GM, van Tulder MW, et al. Integrated care programmes for sport and work participation, performance of physical activities and quality of life among orthopaedic surgery patients: a systematic review with meta-analysis. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020;6(1):e000664.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
29.
Straat AC, Coenen P, Smit DJM, Hulsegge G, Bouwsma EVA, Huirne JAF, et al. Development of a personalized m/eHealth algorithm for the resumption of activities of daily life including work and sport after total and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty: a multidisciplinary Delphi study. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020;17(14):4952.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
30.
31.
Hoorntje A, Leichtenberg CS, Koenraadt KLM, van Geenen RCI, Kerkhoffs G, Nelissen R, et al. Not physical activity, but patient beliefs and expectations are associated with return to work after total knee arthroplasty. J Arthroplasty. 2018;33(4):1094–100.CrossRefPubMed
32.
Jain D, Nguyen LL, Bendich I, Nguyen LL, Lewis CG, Huddleston JI, et al. higher patient expectations predict higher patient-reported outcomes, but not satisfaction, in total knee arthroplasty patients: a prospective multicenter study. J Arthroplasty. 2017;32(9S):S166–70.CrossRefPubMed
33.
Daley D, Payne LP, Galper J, Cheung A, Deal L, Despres M, et al. Clinical guidance to optimize work participation after injury or illness: the role of physical therapists. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2021;51(8):CPG1–102.CrossRefPubMed
34.
Baker P, Kottam L, Coole C, Drummond A, McDaid C, Rangan A, et al. Development of an occupational advice intervention for patients undergoing elective hip and knee replacement: a Delphi study. BMJ Open. 2020;10(7):e036191.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
35.
Stigmar K, Dahlberg LE, Zhou C, Jacobson Lidgren H, Petersson IF, Englund M. Sick leave in Sweden before and after total joint replacement in hip and knee osteoarthritis patients. Acta Orthop. 2017;88(2):152–7.CrossRefPubMed
36.
Kaila-Kangas L, Leino-Arjas P, Koskinen A, Takala EP, Oksanen T, Ervasti J, et al. Sickness absence and return to work among employees with knee osteoarthritis with and without total knee arthroplasty: a prospective register linkage study among Finnish public sector employees. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2021;47:600–8.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
37.
Mollema C, Kuijer P. Working on better work-directed care: what do knee prosthesis patients consider facilitating and hindering factors for return to work? [In Dutch: Werken aan betere arbeidsgerichte zorg: wat vinden knieprothesepatiënten bevorderende en belemmerende factoren voor terugkeer naar werk?]. TBV - Tijdschr Bedrijfs- en Verzekeringsgeneeskd 2018;26:473–476. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1007/​s12498-018-0288-4.CrossRef
38.
Nouri F, Coole C, Narayanasamy M, Baker P, Khan S, Drummond A. Managing employees undergoing total hip and knee replacement: experiences of workplace representatives. J Occup Rehabil. 2019;29(2):451–61.CrossRefPubMed
39.
Hoorntje A, Waterval-Witjes S, Koenraadt KLM, Kuijer P, Blankevoort L, Kerkhoffs G, et al. Goal attainment scaling rehabilitation improves satisfaction with work activities for younger working patients after knee arthroplasty: results from the randomized controlled ACTION trial. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2020;102(16):1445–53.CrossRefPubMed
Metadata
Title
Does Consulting an Occupational Medicine Specialist Decrease Time to Return to Work Among Total Knee Arthroplasty Patients? A 12-Month Prospective Multicenter Cohort Study
Authors
Y. van Zaanen
A. J. Kievit
R. C. I. van Geenen
T. M. J. Pahlplatz
M. J. M. Hoozemans
L. Blankevoort
M. U. Schafroth
D. Haverkamp
T. M. J. S. Vervest
D. H. P. W. Das
V. A. Scholtes
A. J. van der Beek
P. P. F. M. Kuijer
Publication date
09-09-2022
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation / Issue 2/2023
Print ISSN: 1053-0487
Electronic ISSN: 1573-3688
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10926-022-10068-1

Other articles of this Issue 2/2023

Journal of Occupational Rehabilitation 2/2023 Go to the issue

OriginalPaper

Organisational Policies and Practices for the Inclusion of Vulnerable Workers: A Scoping Review of the Employer’s Perspective

OriginalPaper

Exploring the Health and Economic Burden Among Truck Drivers in Australia: A Health Economic Modelling Study

Meta Review

How Much Does Presenteeism Change in Response to Interventions or Alterations in Health Status? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Using the COSMIN Methodology

OriginalPaper

Workplace Mental Health Disclosure, Sustainable Employability and Well-Being at Work: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Military Personnel with Mental Illness

OriginalPaper

Preventing Pain and Stress-Related Ill-Health in Employees: A 6-Months Follow-Up of a Psychosocial Program in a Cluster Randomized Controlled Trial

Editorial

What is Safe Long COVID Rehabilitation?