[Return to work after elective hand surgery]

Abstract

Background: Return to work (RTW) after hand and wrist surgery is crucial due to the role of hand and wrist function in daily work activities. Despite the importance of RTW, data on this topic following common surgical treatments remain limited and often inconsistent. This study analyzes the median time to RTW after 30 different common elective surgical procedures for hand and wrist conditions.

Method: In this multicenter observational study, routinely collected data from 15,727 employed patients who underwent hand or wrist surgery between 2011 and 2021 in the Netherlands were used. RTW was defined as the time between surgery and resuming original job duties for at least 50% (50%RTW) and 100% (100%RTW) of original working hours. Median time to RTW was calculated using the inverse Kaplan-Meier method, stratified by surgery type and physical job intensity.

Results: Median time to RTW varied significantly across surgical procedures, ranging from 0 to 12 weeks. Patients with light physical work returned 2-3 times faster than those with heavier job demands.

Conclusion: The results highlight the influence of both surgery type and work nature on recovery duration. The overview provided in this article can inform patients about expected recovery timelines and may be relevant for policy-making and economic evaluations of treatment strategies.