Guidelines for returning to work after surgery

The purpose of the guidelines

The guidelines are for the following surgeries:

• ACL reconstruction
• ankle lateral ligament reconstruction
• knee arthroscopy
• lumbar discectomy
• lumbar fusion
• rotator cuff repair
• total or partial knee replacement.

The guidelines are intended to be used by surgeons to support their certification practices and conversations with patients about their recovery to help them get back to work and independence sooner.

There is strong evidence that work is generally good for physical and mental health and wellbeing. Work can be a valuable component of a patient’s rehabilitation. It can keep them socially connected while maintaining their income and overall confidence. It can also provide useful physical activity and a sense of purpose, which all contribute to a better recovery. 

A safe and timely return to work not only benefits the patient, but also their whānau and their workplace.

Return-to-work guidelines

These guidelines were developed in collaboration with the New Zealand Orthopaedic Association (NZOA).

Guidance for issuing medical certificates

Issuing the correct medical certificate for your patient’s injury plays an important role in their recovery.  

You can certify your patient as either ‘fit for selected work’, ‘fully unfit’ or ‘fully fit’.  With the ‘fit for selected work’ and ‘fully unfit’ certifications, your patient will be eligible for weekly compensation from us. This is provided they were earning at the time of their accident. 

If your patient was unemployed at the time of the accident, they are not eligible for weekly compensation.  

It’s important to review the patient regularly to ensure they can return to work as soon as medically safe. For advice on how to issue the correct medical certificate for your patient’s injury, see our 'Return-to-work guidelines appendix: ACC certification advice'.