| Year Funded: 2010 | Budget: $197,250 | Funding Agency: WCB Manitoba |
|---|---|---|
| Title: | Return to Work following Total Knee Replacement | |
| Category: | Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work | |
| Subcategory: | Compensation, Disability Management and Return to Work | |
| Keywords: | knee replacement, return to work, osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, | |
| Link to research website: | https://www.wcb.mb.ca/sites/default/files/files/RWIP%20Employment%20and%20Knee%20Replacement%20Surgery.pdf | |
Issue:
Arthritis commonly occurs in the knee and can be caused by osteoarthritis, inflammatory arthritis, sporting injuries or workplace injuries. Total knee replacement (TKR), is a common, cost-effective surgical procedure that can significantly reduce a person’s pain and increase his or her function.
Objectives:
The objectives of this research were to identify the employment characteristics and determine work capacity in working-age patients awaiting TKR; and determine the impact of TKR on the functional abilities of patients to return to work post-operatively and perform their workplace duties.
Anticipated Results:
Key Finding
By six months post-operatively, 84 per cent of patients working pre-operatively had returned to work while among patients not working prior to the surgery just 41 per cent had returned to work. These findings are concordant with current knowledge regarding worklessness, specifically that absence from work in and of itself contributes to slower recovery times and longer durations of disability.
Investigators:
Martin Petrak, Orthopaedic Innovation Centre Inc. Winnipeg
