Earlier Orthopaedic Surgeon Evaluation of Workers' Compensation Associated With Higher Return to Full Duty After Shoulder Arthroscopy.

PURPOSE: To analyze if earlier orthopaedic evaluation (within 100 days of injury) is associated with a greater full duty return to work for shoulder arthroscopy patients with active workers' compensation (WC) claims. METHODS: This was a retrospective chart review of all patients with an active WC claim treated with arthroscopic shoulder surgery at a community hospital between 2011 and 2018 and for 2 years postoperatively. The WC patients were divided into two groups: early orthopaedic evaluation (evaluated within 100 days of injury) and delayed orthopaedic evaluation (evaluated greater than 100 days after injury). Outcomes evaluated were rate and time until full duty return to work. RESULTS: Final inclusion yielded 59 patients (36 early orthopaedic evaluation and 23 late orthopaedic evaluation). There was a higher rate of return to full duty in early versus late orthopaedic evaluation, 26 of 36 (72%) versus eight of 23 (35%), respectively (P = 0.005). A strong correlation was identified between time until orthopaedic evaluation and time to return to full duty after injury (r = 0.519, P = 0.002). Late orthopaedic evaluation was associated with a 4.89 times increased odds of not returning to full duty (odds ratio = 4.89, 95% confidence interval = [1.6 to 14.9]). CONCLUSION: Earlier Orthopaedic Surgeon evaluation of WC patients with shoulder injuries was associated with a higher return to full duty after shoulder arthroscopic surgery.