Social and occupational sequelae after hospitalization for low back pain
Nielsen, A.; Jensen, E.; Vinterberg, H.
Ugeskrift for Laeger 150(29): 1778-1782
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0041-5782 PMID: 2971281 Document Number: 323154
A postal questionnaire was completed by 64 patients seven months after hospitalization on account of low back pain. Twenty-three out of the 45 occupationally active patients had resumed work but only 15 had returned to the same work as prior to hospitalization. The presence and frequency of pain, pareses in the lower limbs, strain on the lumbar spine at work and the patient's subjective estimate that the present low back pain was caused by employment were all factors which were negatively associated with the patient's resumption of work. Fewer patients in social group 5, fewer patients with sick leave of 120 days or more, fewer who had waited for admission for ten days or longer and fewer patients who had applied for disablement pension had resumed work. Out of the 22 persons who had not resumed work, 16 were still on sick leave, three had been awarded disablement pensions, two were waiting for rehabilitation and one was unemployed. One third of the employees had been dismissed most frequently on account of the 120 days rule (a rule in the act that regulates the relationship between employers and employees, enabling the employer to discharge the employee after a sick leave of 120 days with a shortened term of notice). The following factors were associated with discharge: patients from social classes 4 or 5, with prolonged sick leave, with heavy strain on the lumbar region at work, frequent pain in the lumbar region, patients admitted to hospital for the first time with low back pain and patients whose employment was subject to the 120-days rule mentioned above. Half on the self-employed persons were still on sick leave. In many cases, the future occupational situation was still not determined. Alteration or possible repeal for the 120-days rule and revision of occupations with severe strain on the lumbar spine would improve the total situation of patients with low back pain.