title: Are work return and leaves of absence after acetabular fractures predictable? : A retrospective study of 108 patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To test if complexity of acetabular fractures, pre-trauma health status, time from trauma to definitive surgery, severity of injury or job characteristics influence work resumption, return to the same professional position and time out of work.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective study on patients with surgically treated acetabular fractures. Medical records were reviewed to analyse demographics, follow-up, diagnosis (Letournel classification), type of surgical treatment, co-morbidities, time from trauma to definitive surgery, American Society of Anesthesiologists physical status classification (ASA) and associated injuries. Patients were interviewed about the amount of leaves of absence and whether they returned to the same professional position.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 108 patients whose mean age was 44 ± 11 years. Median time out of work was 180 days. Eleven patients lost their job and 23 patients returned to a different professional position. Univariable analysis showed: (a) the risk of losing the job was higher for patients who had been admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) (p = 0.018), (b) returning to the identical position was more likely in patients who were older (p = 0.006), sedentary workers (p = 0.003), and with shorter time from trauma to definitive surgery (p = 0.003). Multivariable linear regression showed that leaves of absence were longer in patients with higher ASA scores, who had been admitted to ICU, or were not sedentary workers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Work reintegration after acetabular fractures is a main issue for the patient and social systems: only 69 % of patients returned to their previously held professional position. Time out of work was not found to be related to fracture type but to pre-trauma health status, ICU admission and sedentary jobs.
  
  
  METHODS
  III.
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Turin, Viale 25 aprile 137 int 6, 10131, Turin, Italy. ale_aprato@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aprato
authors.affiliation: Clinical Investigation and Documentation (C.I.D.) Department, AO Foundation, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Joeris
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Turin, Viale 25 aprile 137 int 6, 10131, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tosto
authors.affiliation: Clinical Investigation and Documentation (C.I.D.) Department, AO Foundation, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kalampoki
authors.affiliation: Clinical Investigation and Documentation (C.I.D.) Department, AO Foundation, Dübendorf, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rometsch
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Turin, Viale 25 aprile 137 int 6, 10131, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Favuto
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Turin, Viale 25 aprile 137 int 6, 10131, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stucchi
authors.affiliation: Manoel Victorino Hospital, Salvador, Brazil.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Azi
authors.affiliation: Medical School, University of Turin, Viale 25 aprile 137 int 6, 10131, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Massè
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000077:Acetabulum / Q000293:injuries*; D000328:Adult; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005593:Fracture Fixation, Internal / Q000379:methods; D050723:Fractures, Bone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020127:Recovery of Function; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D062707:Return to Work; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
keywords: Acetabulum; Internal fracture fixation; Leaves of absence; Morbidity; Return to work