No abstract

In Germany a high percentage of 84.9 % of patients return to work after joint replacement due to coxarthrosis. Nevertheless, the results indicate that the social situation becomes worse for approximately one sixth of the patients.

The outcome quality of medical rehabilitation is evaluated often by "Patient Reported Outcomes" (PROs). It is examined to what extent these PROs are corresponding with "hard" or "objective" outcomes such as payments of contributions to social insurance. The "rehabilitation QM outcome study" includes self-reports of patients as well as data from the Rehabilitation Statistics Database (RSD) of the German pension insurance Baden-Wurttemberg. The sample for the question posed includes N=2 947 insured who were treated in 2011 in 21 clinics of the "health quality network" and who were either employed or unemployed at the time of the rehabilitation application (e. g. the workforce or labour force group, response rate: 55%). The sample turned out widely representative for the population of the insured persons. PROs and payment of contributions to pension insurance clearly correspond. In the year after the rehabilitation improved vs. not improved rehabilitees differed clearly with regard to their payments of contributions. The results support the validity of PROs. For a comprehensive depiction of the outcome quality of rehabilitation PROs and payments of contributions should be considered supplementary.

Fractures of the pelvis and the acetabulum currently lead in one of five patients to loss of employment. Thereby the trauma threatens the social security of the young patients. Follow-up care should be intensified to increase recovery rates and reduce the burden of long-term work disability.

The results provide an indication of higher severity of patients in group "postoperative rehabilitation without a period at home". Nevertheless there are some indications for under-utilization of certain patient groups.