Time Taken to Return to Work Does Not Influence Outcomes of Minimally Invasive Transforaminal Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A 5-Year Follow-Up Study

Conclusion. Patients who RTW late have significantly poorer preoperative SF-36 physical component scores and higher ODI, NASS NS, NPRS back/leg pain scores. Surgeons should be cognizant that working adults with poorer preoperative function will tend to return to work later, but should reassure them that they will likely achieve similar clinical outcomes, satisfaction and expectation fulfilment when compared with patients who returned to work early. Level of Evidence: 3
Source: Spine - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: OUTCOMES Source Type: research