Return to work status of patients under 65 years of age with osteonecrosis of the femoral head after total hip arthroplasty.

Objective: This aimed to evaluate the status of return to work (RTW) in patients with osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) after total hip arthroplasty (THA).

Methods: The baseline characteristics of all patients in this retrospective study were obtained from the hospital patient database. The relevant changes in patients' working conditions, as well as the numerical rating scale (NRS), Harris Hip Score (HHS), self-assessment of work ability, and Likert scale satisfaction assessment were obtained through video call follow-ups.

Results: 118 patients (response rate: 83%) were ultimately included in this study. The average length of time for the patients to stop working preoperatively was 20.7 weeks. Ninety-four patients (24 women and 70 men) who underwent THA had RTW status, with a mean RTW time of 21.0 weeks. Men had a significantly higher proportion of final RTW and a significantly faster RTW than women. Significant differences in smoking, drinking, cardiovascular diseases, changes in working levels, variations in the types of physical work, changes in working hours, and pain symptoms were observed between the RTW and Non-RTW populations. The patients with a positive RTW status had higher postoperative HHS scores, lower postoperative NRS scores, and higher self-assessment of work ability than patients who had a negative RTW status.

Conclusion: Ultimately, 80% of patients achieved RTW status. Drinking, sex, change in working level, variation in the type of physical work, change in working hours, post-surgery HHS score and self-assessment of work ability can serve as predictive factors for RTW.