Analysis of Factors associated with Return to Work After Lumbar Surgery up to 2-years follow-up: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) Study

Authors

Mohamed Macki, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Sharath K. Anand, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Travis Hamilton, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Seokchun Lim, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Tarek Mansour, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Michael Bazydlo, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Lonni Schultz, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Muwaffak M. Abdulhak, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Jad G. Khalil
Paul Park
Ilyas Aleem
Richard Easton
Jason M. Schwalb, Henry Ford HealthFollow
David R. Nerenz, Henry Ford HealthFollow
Victor Chang, Henry Ford HealthFollow

Recommended Citation

Macki M, Anand SK, Hamilton T, Lim S, Mansour T, Bazydlo M, Schultz L, Abdulhak MM, Khalil JG, Park P, Aleem I, Easton R, Schwalb JM, Nerenz D, and Chang V. Analysis of Factors associated with Return to Work After Lumbar Surgery up to 2-years follow-up: A Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) Study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2021.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

7-7-2021

Publication Title

Spine (Phila Pa 1976)

Abstract

STUDY DESIGN: Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) prospectively collects data on all patients undergoing operations for degenerative and/or deformity indications.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to identify which factors are significantly associated with return-to-work after lumbar surgery at long-term follow-up.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Prior publications have created a clinically relevant predictive model for return-to-work, wherein education, gender, race, comorbidities, and preoperative symptoms increased likelihood of return-to-work at 3 months after lumbar surgery. We sought to determine if these trends 1) persisted at 1 year and 2 years postoperatively; or 2) differed among preoperatively employed versus unemployed patients.

METHODS: MSSIC was queried for all patients undergoing lumbar operations (2014-2019). All patients intended to return-to-work postoperatively. Patients were followed for up to 2 years postoperatively. Measures of association were calculated with multivariable generalized estimating equations (GEE).

RESULTS: Return-to-work increased from 63% (3542/5591) at 90 days postoperatively to 75% (3143/4147) at 1 year and 74% (2133/2866) at 2 years postoperatively. Following GEE, neither clinical nor surgical variables predicted return-to-work at all three time intervals: 90 days, 1 year, and 2 years postoperatively. Only socioeconomic factors reached statistical significance at all follow-up points. Preoperative employment followed by insurance status had the greatest associations with return-to-work. In a sub-analysis of patients who were preoperatively employed, insurance was the only factor with significant associations with return-to-work at all three follow-up intervals. The return-to-work rates among unemployed patients at baseline increased from 29% (455/1100) at 90 days, 44% (495/608) at 1 year, and 46% (366/426) at 2 years postoperatively. The only two significant factors associated with return-to-work at all three follow-up intervals were Medicaid, as compared to private insurance, and male gender.

CONCLUSION: In patients inquiring about long-term return-to-work after lumbar surgery, insurance status represents the important determinant of employment status. Level of Evidence: 2.

Comments

DOI://10.1097/BRS.0000000000004163

PubMed ID

34265812

ePublication

ePub ahead of print