Handicap 1 year following surgery for lumbar disc herniation: special reference to social and vocational factors.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to clarify social and vocational factors defining occupation handicap in 212 patients operated 1 year earlier for lumbar disc herniation. It seemed that many social and vocational factors had a significant correlation with low back pain problems. Although it is not always relevant to offer social and vocational factors as the cause of back complaint, these may be regarded as associated factors where the link could exist through coping with life situation.