Joint replacement surgery is a routine procedure for the treatment of severe joint pain. It is a highly effective procedure that helps to restore function and mobility to people with conditions like osteoarthritis or who’ve suffered a serious fracture. Joint replacement surgery is one of orthopaedics’ biggest success stories, enabling patients to regain their quality of life and get back to doing many of the things they love.
How soon can I go back to work after joint replacement?
However, recovery from surgery can take up to 12 weeks so this may present a challenge for people with work and family commitments. One of the questions we get asked most frequently by patients of working age who are considering joint replacement surgery is “How soon can I get back to work?” It is a crucial consideration for employees or the self-employed and can have a significant impact on when to undergo surgery.
Research study from the Netherlands
A research team from the Netherlands working on behalf of the Longitudinal Leiden Orthopaedics Outcomes of Osteoarthritis Study (LOAS) Group, recently looked into recovery times for working-age patients undergoing total hip or total knee replacements. It examined data from the prospective multicentre LOAS, where questionnaires are completed pre-operatively and again six months and 12 months after surgery. The findings were published in The Bone & Joint Journal, 2023; 105-B(9):977-984.
The team categorised patients according to their occupational class, using the International Standard Classification of Occupations 2008. The categories were: blue-collar, white-collar, high-skilled, and low-skilled. Cox regression analyses were conducted separately for total hip replacement patients and total knee replacement patients.
In total, they looked at 276 patients who’d undergone a total knee replacement – also called total knee arthroplasty (TKA) – and 360 who’d undergone a total hip replacement – also called total hip arthroplasty (THA). Patients were mainly white-collar workers who were either high-skilled (THA 57% and TKA 41%) or low-skilled (THA 24% and TKA 38%).
Findings
Six months after having a total hip replacement, 78% of low-skilled blue-collar workers had returned to work, compared to 83-86% of workers in other occupational classes. After 12 months the number who had returned to work in all occupational classes had risen to 87%-90%.
Six months after having a total knee replacement, 58% of low-skilled blue-collar workers and 64% of high-skilled blue-collar workers had returned to work. This is compared to 80-89% of white-collar workers. After 12 months, 79% of low-skilled blue-collar workers had returned to work, compared with 87-92% of other occupational classes.
The researchers concluded that there are clear differences in how quickly patients can return to work following a hip replacement or a knee replacement. The data shows it takes longer to return to work after a total knee replacement, no matter which occupational class you are in. The researchers recommended advising patients of this and also letting employers know so they can plan accordingly.
What does joint replacement surgery entail?
Having a total joint replacement involves removing the whole of the damaged joint (in contrast to a partial joint replacement which entails removing only part of the joint) and replacing it with a prosthetic implant. These prostheses are made from metal, plastic or ceramic and are designed to mimic the function of your natural joint.
Read more
Day Case Total Hip Replacement
Risks of Needing Revision Surgery Following a Total Knee Replacement?
Why might it take longer to recover from a total knee replacement than a total hip replacement?
In general, knee replacement surgery is a more complicated procedure that requires a longer recovery time. This is because the hip is a simple ball and socket joint in contrast to the knee joint which has a wider range of movements and greater flexibility. We normally advise patients that recovery and rehabilitation from a total hip replacement is around six weeks, while recovery from a total knee replacement may take 12 weeks or longer. In both cases, it is important to follow the programme of exercises recommended by the physiotherapist as this will help to strengthen the muscles and improve overall surgical outcomes.
The risk of complication is low in both total hip and total knee replacement surgery, however, there is a small chance of infection, dislocation (the latter does not tend to affect knee replacement patients) or blood clots.
If you require a total knee or hip replacement and would like advice on recovery times, potential risks or any other aspects of surgery, please contact us.
