• J. Occup. Environ. Med. · May 2013

    Temporal relationship between lumbar spine surgeries, return to work, and workers' compensation costs in a cohort of injured workers.

    • Robert A Lavin, Xuguang Tao, Larry Yuspeh, and Edward J Bernacki.
    • Department of Neurology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
    • J. Occup. Environ. Med. 2013 May 1; 55 (5): 539-43.

    ObjectiveDetermine the relationship between time to surgery, lost time, and insurance costs.MethodA cohort of 582 claimants undergoing lumbar spine surgery (1999 to 2002) in the state of Louisiana was observed for 7 years.ResultsThe shorter the time interval between injury and first lumbar surgery, the lower the cost and time lost from work. Average days lost from work and claim costs for 42% of those undergoing early lumbar surgery did not differ from injured workers who lost time from work for claims not involving lumbar surgery. Claim cost for the remaining 58% who had delayed surgery was 5.7 times greater than that for the early surgery cohort.ConclusionThe decision to perform lumbar surgery is not necessarily associated with high claim costs or longer time out from work, provided that the determination to operate is early.

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