Relationship between the length of time off work preoperatively and clinical outcome at 24-month follow-up in patients undergoing total disc replacement or fusion

Background contextA recent study involving interbody fusion patients found that preoperative work status was significantly related to clinical outcome. In another study comparing the best and worst outcomes of total disc replacement, among a battery of variables analyzed, the only one that differentiated the best and worst outcome groups was the length of time off work before total disc replacement.PurposeThe purpose of this study was to determine if there was a relationship between the length of time off work and treatment outcome at 24-month follow-up. If such a relationship existed, a secondary study objective would be to determine if a duration of work could be identified beyond which would be associated with compromised clinical outcome.Study design and settingData were collected prospectively from randomized clinical trials comparing total disc replacement with lumbar fusion conducted at a single site.Patient sampleA database of 232 patients enrolled in one of two Food and Drug Administration-regulated trials comparing total disc replacement with fusion for the treatment of symptomatic disc degeneration was the basis of the study group. Only patients who had reached 24-month follow-up were included. The 28 patients who were not employed by choice preoperatively were not included in the analysis.Outcome measuresPrimary outcome measures used were visual analog scales (VAS) assessing pain and Oswestry disability index.MethodsThe length of time off work before surgery was recorded in weeks. The mean percentage improvement between preoperative and 24-month follow-up scores were analyzed.ResultsThere was a significant relationship between duration off work preoperatively and clinical outcome (p<.05). The length of time off work preoperatively was more strongly related to outcome than was surgery type, insurance type, job demand, or preoperative VAS and Oswestry scores. Further analysis of the data identified a window of approximately 0 to 13 weeks off work preoperatively that was related to significantly greater improvements on visual analog scales (VAS) and Oswestry scores after surgery compared with patients who were off work for more than 13 weeks preoperatively. Although the subgroup off work for more than 13 weeks improved significantly from their preoperative status, the improvement was not as great as in the subgroup off work for a shorter duration.ConclusionsThe results of this study found that patients off work for a longer duration before surgery improved significantly postoperatively, but had less favorable clinical outcomes than patients off work for a lesser duration. This study suggests a window of approximately 13 weeks off work before surgery after which clinical improvement is reduced. Implications of this finding may be that once a patient becomes unable to work for an extended period, more rigorous psychological screening may be in order as well as perhaps engaging in more rigorous rehabilitation after surgery. Further investigation is needed to determine if the 13 weeks identified in this study is applicable to other populations.