New Zealand’s Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) has released evidence-based guidelines to support patients to return to work safely and sooner following specific orthopaedic surgeries, developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association (NZOA) and its specialty societies.
The guidelines cover seven procedures: anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, ankle lateral ligament reconstruction, knee arthroscopy, lumbar discectomy, lumbar fusion, rotator cuff repair, and total or partial knee replacement. They set out clear expectations for post-surgical recovery and establish when patients can safely resume work.
ACC chief clinical officer Dr Debbie Holdsworth said the initiative is part of the organisation’s broader Turnaround Plan.
“Getting people back to work and independence is a key priority of our Turnaround Plan, which sets out what we’ll deliver to improve performance and achieve better recovery outcomes for injured New Zealanders,” Holdsworth said.
“Together with NZOA, we’ve created clinically endorsed guidelines for post-surgical recovery after specific procedures and when patients can safely return to work.”
The guidelines draw on international benchmarks and expert clinical opinion from four specialty societies – the New Zealand Knee Society, the New Zealand Foot and Ankle Society, the New Zealand Orthopaedic Spine Society, and the New Zealand Shoulder and Elbow Society – alongside ACC data and consideration of surgical, clinical, and occupational factors.
NZOA ACC and Third Party Liaison Committee chair Alex Malone said the association endorses the framework.
“The NZOA is pleased to have collaborated with ACC and endorses these guidelines as a practical, evidence-informed framework to support safe and appropriate return to work following surgery, while recognising the importance of individual clinical judgement and patient-specific factors,” Malone said.
The guidelines arrive as ACC works to meet the goals of its Turnaround Plan, released in January in response to an independent Finity review of claims management and rehabilitation performance and an updated Letter of Expectation from minister for ACC Scott Simpson.
ACC notes strong evidence supports the benefit of an early return to work for both physical and mental health, and that work can form a valuable part of a patient’s rehabilitation. The guidelines are intended to assist surgeons and other certifying providers in having recovery conversations with patients and in guiding their certification practices.
Holdsworth said patients should be supported to return to work in a modified or graduated capacity where appropriate.
“Patients recovering from surgery should be supported to return to work early and safely, including returning to work in a modified or graduated capacity where appropriate,” she said. “This means ensuring you’re selecting the right medical certificate for your patient.”
The return-to-work guidelines are available on the ACC website.
