Return to work of 87 severely impaired low back pain patients two years after a program of intensive functional rehabilitation.
Return to work is the main long-term objective of rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic low back pain (LBP).


OBJECTIVE
Evaluation of work status and number of sick leaves in 87 severely impaired LBP patients 2 years after a functional restoration program.


METHODS
Open prospective study.


METHODS
87 chronic LBP patients.


METHODS
multidisciplinary functional restoration program. Ergonomic advice on the workplace was performed for 53 patients.


RESULTS
work status and number of sick leaves due to LBP.


RESULTS
The characteristics of the 26 patients lost to follow-up did not differ significantly from the rest of the population before the program. In the 61 remaining patients, 48 (78%) were at work at 2 years, 43 full-time and 22 at the same job. Nineteen worked in a different environment. Sick leaves were reduced by 60% compared to the 2 years prior to the program: 128 days (+/-200 days) versus 329 days (+/-179 days); p<0.005.


CONCLUSIONS
Sick leaves remained significantly reduced and the number of workers who were at work significantly increased at 2 years after an intensive program.
Bontoux
L
L
Services de médecine physique et de réadaptation, CRRRF-CHU, rue des Capucins, 49103 Angers cedex 02, France. luc.bontoux@c3rf-angers.asso.fr
Dubus
V
V
Roquelaure
Y
Y
Colin
D
D
Brami
L
L
Roche
G
G
Fanello
S
S
Penneau-Fontbonne
D
D
Richard
I
I
D000328:Adult; D004651:Employment; D006804:Ergonomics; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data