---

Alberta disability duration guidelines > Upper extremities: Surgical/therapeutic/diagnostic procedures

Tendon Repairs/Transfers
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks	Possible 24  Months
Light Work	2 weeks - 6 weeks
Medium Work	4 weeks- 8 weeks
Heavy Work	4 weeks- 8 weeks
Very Heavy Work	6 weeks - 12 weeks

 

Tenolysis/Tendon Releases:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks	Possible 24  Months
Light Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks
Medium Work	3 weeks- 6 weeks
Heavy Work	3 weeks- 6 weeks
Very Heavy Work	4 weeks - 8 weeks

 

Repair of Rotator Cuff and/or Biceps Tendon Tear(s):arthroscopic or open arthrotomy
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary / Light Work	1 weeks - 3 weeks	Possible 24  Months
Medium Work	4 weeks - 8 weeks
Heavy\Very Heavy Work	8 weeks- 12 weeks

* Disability may be permanent if work requires arms overhead

Decompression Surgery for Impingement syndrome:arthroscopic or open arthrotomy
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary / Light Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks	Possible 24  Months
Medium Work	6 weeks - 12 weeks
Heavy\Very Heavy Work	12 weeks- 16 weeks

* Disability may be permanent if work requires arms overhead  

Radial Head/Neck Resection: primary radial head/neck resection for fracture
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	3 weeks	Possible 24 Months
Light Work	6 weeks
Medium Work	8 weeks
Heavy Work	12 weeks
Very Heavy Work	12 weeks

 

Ulnar Nerve Transposition:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	4 weeks	Not anticipated
Light Work	4 weeks
Medium Work	6 weeks
Heavy Work	6 weeks
Very Heavy Work	6 weeks

 

Shoulder Repair- Glenohumeral Dislocation: recurrent
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks	Possible 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	3 weeks - 6 weeks
Medium Work	4 weeks- 8 weeks
Heavy Work	6 weeks - 10 weeks
Very Heavy Work	Unlikely to return to Very Heavy Work

 

Carpal Tunnel Release:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	0 days - 3 weeks	Not anticipated but possible Minimum 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	0 days - 3 weeks
Medium Work	0 days - 3 weeks
Heavy Work	3 weeks - 6 weeks
Very Heavy Work	3 weeks - 6 weeks

 

Carpal Fusion:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	8 weeks - 12 weeks	Expected 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	12 weeks - 16 weeks
Medium Work	12 weeks - 16 weeks
Heavy Work	6 months - probably not advisable
Very Heavy Work	6 months - probably not advisable

 

Fusion of Metacarpal - Phalangeal (MP) Joint of Thumb:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	6 weeks - 10 weeks	Expected 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	6 weeks - 10 weeks
Medium Work	10 weeks - 14 weeks
Heavy Work	18 weeks
Very Heavy Work	18 weeks

 

Fusion of Interphalangeal Joints of Finger and Thumb:
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	1 week - 6 weeks	Expected 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	1 week - 6 weeks
Medium Work	4 weeks - 8 weeks
Heavy Work	8 weeks - 10 weeks
Very Heavy Work	8 weeks - 10 weeks

 

Acromioclavicular (AC) Excision (Mumford):
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	2 weeks - 4 weeks	Expected 24 Months post surgery
Light Work	4 week - 6 weeks
Medium Work	6 weeks - 8 weeks
Heavy Work	8 weeks - 10 weeks
Very Heavy Work	10 weeks - 12 weeks

 

Acromioclavicular (AC) Joint Surgical Reduction : (Grade IV - V ACJ Separation)
Job classification	RTW Minimum/Maximum	PCI
Sedentary Work	2 weeks - 8 weeks	Not anticipated
Light Work	6 weeks - 8 weeks
Medium Work	8 weeks- 10 weeks
Heavy Work	10 weeks - 12 weeks
Very Heavy Work	10 weeks - 12 weeks

Injured arm should be relatively immobile for 6 weeks to allow for good soft tissue healing.

[ back to top ]

---

Web site terms of use | Contact us