Figure 1

Number of publications of studies with RTW as outcome parameter. Pubmed-search from 1966 – 12/2003 using the search strategies: (1) [('return' OR 'day* lost' OR 'disability') AND 'work'] OR 'sick leave'; Limit: 'Clinical Trial' (2) {[('return' OR 'day* lost' OR 'disability') AND 'work'] OR 'sick leave'} AND 'Orthopaedic Procedures [mh]'. The abstracts of the retrieved publications were scanned to identify clinical studies using either 'return to work' or 'time of sick leave' as primary or secondary outcome. The found studies were categorised into one of the following 6 groups: 'Hand', 'Spine', 'Long Bone', 'Foot and Ankle', 'Knee' or 'Neck and Shoulder'.