ORIGINAL PAPER
The return to professional activity patients treated surgically due to advanced gonarthrosis
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Medical University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland
(Orthopedics and Pediatrics Orthopedics Department)
Online publication date: 2021-04-09
Corresponding author
Andrzej Borowski
Medical University of Lodz, Orthopedics and Pediatrics Orthopedics Department, Pomorska 251, 92-213 Łódź, Poland
Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2021;34(5):617-28
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ABSTRACT
Objectives: The goal of this work is to analyze the issue of return to professional activity by working-age patients who have been treated surgically with
total knee arthroplasty (TKA) due to gonarthrosis. Material and Methods: Overall, 88 working-age patients were examined, with a total of 91 TKA
procedures performed due to advanced gonarthrosis. The average age of the patients was 54.2 years for women and 58.1 years for men. A modified
Knee Society Score scale was used to compile the results of the clinical trial. The Kellgren-Lawrence classification was used to assess preoperative
radiographs. Postoperative radiographs evaluated the position of the endoprosthesis of both the femoral and tibial components in the anteriorposterior
and lateral upright projections. The obtained results were subjected to statistical analysis. Results: In the preoperative assessment, both the
clinical and radiological results obtained were unfavorable in all cases. Throughout the observation period of approximately over 3.8 years, a very
good result was noted in 65 cases (71.4%), a good result in 20 cases (22%), and a satisfactory result in 6 cases. There were no bad results. The average
improvement on the Visual Analogue Scale was 6.5 pts. The radiological assessment did not reveal any radiological symptoms of the aseptic loosening
of the endoprosthesis, simultaneously concluding that each time the endoprosthesis components were properly seated. Only 53 (58.3%) of the examined
patients were professionally active before the surgery. After completing the treatment, 46 (50.5%) of all patients returned to work, in favor of
intellectual workers. The average duration of sick leave was 136.2 days, and rehabilitation allowance was granted in 19 cases. Conclusions: Firstly, in
working-age patients, TKA is a valuable method for surgical treatment of advanced gonarthrosis of varying etiology. Secondly, most of the patients
who worked before the surgery returned to performing work in the position held and on the same full-time equivalent basis. Int J Occup Med Environ
Health. 2021;34(5):617–28