General/Abdominal Surgery
| Condition | Recommended return to non-manual | Recommended return to manual | Factors affecting return to work |
| Inguinal, small umbilical or incisional hernia laparoscopic repair | 3-5 days[1] [2] | 1-2 weeks[3] | |
| 1 week | |||
| Inguinal, small umbilical or incisional hernia open repair | 2 weeks | 2-3 weeks[3] | |
| Inguinal hernia open repair | 3-7 days[5] | 14 days[5] | |
| Bilateral inguinal hernia repair laparoscopic repair | 1 week | 1-2 weeks | |
| Bilateral inguinal hernia repair open repair | 3-5 weeks[2] | ||
| Recurrent inguinal hernia laparoscopic repair | 1-2 weeks | 1-6 weeks | |
| Recurrent inguinal hernia open repair | 1-3 weeks | 3-12 weeks | |
| Large umbilical or incisional hernia laparoscopic repair | 2-3 weeks[4] | ||
| Large umbilical or incisional hernia open repair | 3-5 weeks[4] | ||
| Epigastric hernia | 3-5 days[4] | 10-14 days[4] | |
| 2 weeks | 4 weeks | ||
| Femoral hernia | 2 weeks | 3 weeks | |
| Umbilical hernia | 2 weeks | 6 weeks | |
| Cholecystectomy - laparoscopic | 1-2 weeks[4] | 2-3 weeks[3] | |
| 4 weeks | |||
| 2 weeks[5] | 2-4 weeks[5] | ||
| Cholecystectomy - open | 3 weeks | 3-5 weeks[3] | |
| 8-12 weeks | |||
| Laparoscopic fundoplication | 10-14 days[4] | 3-4 weeks[4] | providing solid foods are tolerated |
| Laparoscopic bowel resection | 2 weeks | 6 weeks | |
| Major laparotomy | 6-8 weeks[4] | ||
| Gastrectomy, fit before surgery | 6-8 weeks[4] | ||
| Gastrectomy or oesophagogastrectomy for malignancy | 8-12 weeks[4] | unlikely[4] | Dumping from early filling of duodenum and short peak of glucose absorption |
| Duodenotomy for ulceration | 4-6 weeks[4] | 6-8 weeks[4] | |
| Appendicectomy - laparoscopic | 7 days[4] | 1-2 weeks[3] | |
| Appendicectomy - open | 2 weeks[4] | 2-3 weeks[3] | |
| Right hemicolectomy with end-to-end anastomosis | 3-6 weeks[4] | 4-8 weeks[4] | |
| Left hemicolectomy or anterior resection of rectum | 4-6 weeks[4] | 6-10 weeks[4] | stoma may delay returning to work, stoma normally closed after 3-6 months |
| Defunctioning stoma closure | 3-4 weeks[4] | ||
| Abdominoperineal excision of rectum with permanent colostomy | 8-12 weeks[4] | General fitness and ability to cope with stoma | |
| Anal verge haematoma | 2-3 days[4] | 2-3 days[4] | |
| Thrombosed internal haemorrhoids | Up to 2 weeks[4] | Up to 2 weeks[4] | |
| Haemorrhoidectomy | 2-3 weeks[4] | 2-3 weeks[4] | Full healing may take 5-6 weeks but should usually still be able to work |
| 4 weeks | |||
| Anal fissure - lateral internal sphincterotomy | 1-2 days[4] | 1-2 days[4] | |
| Pilonidal sinus primary suture | 2-4 weeks[4] | 3-6 weeks[4] | |
| 1-3 weeks | |||
| Pilonidal sinus secondary intention | 3 weeks | 6-8 weeks[4] | Earlier return if arrangements for dressing wound at work |
| 3-6 weeks | |||
| Anal fistula - small, little dressing required | 1 week[4] | 1 week[4] | |
| Anal fistula - large, dressing changed by district nurse | variable[4] | variable[4] | |
| Abdominoplasty | 2-3 weeks[6] | 8 weeks[6] | |
| [1] Shulman AG, Amid PK, Lichtenstein IL. Returning to work after herniorrhaphy BMJ 1994;309:216-217. | |||
| [2] Wellwood J, Sculpher MJ, Stoker D, Nicholls GJ, Geddes C, Whitehead A, Singh R, Spiegelhalter D. Randomised controlled trial of laparoscopic versus open mesh repair for inguinal hernia. BMJ 1998;317:103-10. | |||
| [3] Department for Work and Pensions. Return to work following elective surgical procedures. | |||
| [4] Samuel AM, Wellwood JMcK. Fitness for work after surgery. In Palmer KT, Cox RAF and Brown I. (Eds) Fitness for Work 4th edn. Oxford University Press, Oxford 2007 pp 467-486. | |||
| [5] Royal College of Surgeons of England. | |||
| [6] Newcastle upon Tyne NHS Foundation Trust | |||
Recommendations based on formal analysis of evidence are in red. Where only some evidence is available, the figures are in blue, and the relevant references are provided. Consensus-based guidelines are in black.