RETURN TO WORK AFTER CARPAL TUNNEL RELEASE SURGERY.

OBJECTIVE

To clarify whether work-related factors influence the return to work after CTS surgery.

METHODS

Descriptive observational study that included 56 patients who underwent CTS surgery. The variables studied were profession, employment status, time off work after surgery, reason for returning to work, stress level, leave granted by the National Institute of Social Security (INSS), change in job function, and level of work effort.

RESULTS

The average time to return to work was 39.8 days (SD: 22.3). Self-employed individuals returned to work 6.5 days (SD: 22.3) earlier than salaried employees with a formal contract, who returned in 43.8 days (SD: 23.9; p=0.49). Most patients were on leave granted by the INSS, with an average of 47.8 days (SD: 23; p=0.003). Patients who had surgery on their left upper limb returned to work one week earlier than those who had surgery on their right (p=0.025).

CONCLUSION

Coverage by INSS are associated with a delay of approximately two weeks in return to work compared to patients without this coverage. Level of Evidence II; Retrospective f Study.