Three out of four working age patients have fulfilled expectations towards paid employment six months after total hip or knee arthroplasty: a multicentre cohort study

To investigate factors associated with fulfilment of expectations towards paid employment after total hip/knee arthroplasty (THA/TKA). Cohort study including preoperatively employed patients aged 18–64 scheduled for THA/TKA. Expectations were collected preoperatively, and 6 and 12 months postoperatively with the paid employment item of the Hospitalfor-Special-Surgery Expectations Surveys (back-to-normal = 1; large improvement = 2; moderate improvement = 3; slight improvement = 4; not applicable = 5). Patients scoring not applicable were excluded. Fulfilment was calculated by subtracting preoperative from postoperative scores (< 0: unfulfilled; ≥ 0: fulfilled). Multivariable logistic regression analyses were conducted separately for THA/TKA at 6 and 12 months postoperatively. Six months postoperatively, 75% of THA patients (n = 237/n = 316) and 72% of TKA patients (n = 211/n = 294) had fulfilled expectations. Older age (TKA:OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.01–1.15) and better postoperative physical functioning (THA:OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.06–1.14; TKA:OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.01–1.06) increased the likelihood of fulfilment. Physical work tasks (THA:OR 0.12, 95% CI 0.03–0.44), preoperative sick leave (TKA:OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.17–0.65), and difficulties at work (THA:OR 0.10, 95% CI 0.03–0.35; TKA:OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.17–0.98) decreased the likelihood of fulfilment. Twelve months postoperatively similar risk factors were found. Three out of four working-age THA/TKA patients had fulfilled expectations towards paid employment at 6 months postoperatively. Preoperative factors associated with fulfilment were older age, mental work tasks, no sick leave, postoperative factors were better physical functioning, and no perceived difficulties at work.