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Pain 2020 Jun 29. Epub 2020 Jun 29.

Insurance Work and Health Group, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, 553 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004, Australia.

Low back pain (LBP) is a leading cause of work disability. While absent from work, workers with LBP may receive income support from a system such as workers' compensation or social security. This study examines how and in what contexts income support systems impact the healthcare quality for people with work disability and LBP and their functional capacity. Read More

J Sleep Res 2020 Jul 2:e13124. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Institute for Work & Health, Toronto, ON, Canada.

Despite the high burden of sleep disturbances among the general population, there is limited information on prevalence and impact of poor sleep among injured workers. This study: (a) estimated the prevalence of sleep disturbance following work-related injury; and (b) examined the longitudinal association between sleep disturbances and disability/functioning, accounting for reciprocal relationships and mental illness. Longitudinal survey data were collected from workers' compensation claimants with a time-loss claim in Victoria, Australia (N = 700). Read More

J Occup Rehabil 2020 Jul 2. Epub 2020 Jul 2.

Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Perth, WA, Australia.

Purpose To assess employees' experiences of the workers' compensation claim process for psychological trauma, stress or a mental health condition sustained during the course of work in the police and emergency services sector. Methods 14,868 employees (69.4% male, response rate = 22%) from around Australia participated in Answering the Call: the Beyond Blue National Mental Health and Wellbeing Study of Police and Emergency Services, and were asked questions regarding their workers' compensation experiences for mental health reasons. Read More

Orthopedics 2020 Jun 30:1-6. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

There has been a shift in US health care to a system that emphasizes value. Patient-reported outcomes have become a critical component of that valuation. A 5-year quality improvement project at the community private practice level was undertaken to assess the authors' delivery of care and practice processes for shoulder surgery as compared with established standards. Read More

Health Policy 2020 Jun 10. Epub 2020 Jun 10.

Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene Department, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Via Stefano Gradi, 55, 00143 Rome, Italy.

Although the predominant occupation origin of mesothelioma is well known, determinant factors involved in filing compensation are scarcely investigated. A linkage between incident mesothelioma cases collected by Italian mesothelioma register (ReNaM) and compensation claims and assignment by Italian national insurance Institute (INAIL) has been conducted for cases diagnosed in the period 2010-2015 and occupational exposure to asbestos. Logistic regression models and decision tree models have been used to identify demographic, diagnostic and anamnestic factors significant for filing and receiving compensation. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2020 Jun;62(6):e273-e286

American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Elk Grove Village, Illinois.

: Utilization review (UR) is a process that assesses aspects of a treating provider's care plans and then provides recommendations to payors/insurance carriers, third party administrators, etc, concerning the appropriateness of the proposed care. UR has become an integral part of medical practice and has influenced medical care within the workers' compensation (WC) system and is mandated in several states and jurisdictions. This guidance statement from the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) reviews structural elements of UR programs and proposes a possible template for operational standards. Read More

BMC Public Health 2020 Jun 3;20(1):844. Epub 2020 Jun 3.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 101, Daehak-ro, Jongno-gu, Seoul, 03080, Republic of Korea.

Background: This study aimed to develop a Korean version of the Return-to-Work Self-Efficacy (RTWSE)-19 Scale using forward- and backward-translation and investigate the validity of the RTWSE Scale specifically for Korean workers with work-related injuries.

Methods: Participants were 202 injured workers who had filed a claim accepted by the workers' compensation system and had received medical rehabilitation at workers' compensation hospitals following a work-related musculoskeletal injury. Among these participants, 88. Read More

J Shoulder Elbow Surg 2020 Apr 28. Epub 2020 Apr 28.

Boston Shoulder Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.

Background: There remains a paucity of studies examining the impact of workers' compensation (WC) on a variety of outcomes after biceps tenodesis. The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative recovery curves after biceps tenodesis in patients with and without WC claims.

Methods: Using the Surgical Outcomes System database, we assessed the postoperative recovery outcomes of all patients who had outcomes recorded at least 6 months after isolated biceps tenodesis for the treatment of a diagnosis of biceps tendinitis, stratified by WC status. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 Apr 27;17(9). Epub 2020 Apr 27.

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Rehabilitation Center, Seoul 01022, Korea.

Central-nervous-system (CNS) injuries constitute a significant cause of morbidity (often resulting in long-term disability) and mortality. This cross-sectional study compared the activity and participation of community-dwelling people with severe disability from acquired brain injuries (ABI) ( = 322) and spinal-cord injuries (SCI) ( = 183) to identify risk factors related to disability. Data were collected through a questionnaire survey of community-dwelling people with severe disability attending 65 healthcare centers. Read More

Ann Work Expo Health 2020 Jul;64(6):622-635

Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, Novara, Italy.

Objectives: This study was performed with the aim of investigating the temporal patterns and determinants associated with mortality from asbestosis among 21 cohorts of Asbestos-Cement (AC) workers who were heavily exposed to asbestos fibres.

Methods: Mortality for asbestosis was analysed for a cohort of 13 076 Italian AC workers (18.1% women). Read More

Muscle Nerve 2020 Jul 1;62(1):60-69. Epub 2020 Jun 1.

RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California.

Introduction: The quality of electrodiagnostic tests may influence treatment decisions, particularly regarding surgery, affecting health outcomes and health-care expenditures.

Methods: We evaluated test quality among 338 adults with workers' compensation claims for carpal tunnel syndrome. Using simulations, we examined how it influences the appropriateness of surgery. Read More

Occup Environ Med 2020 Jul 27;77(7):470-477. Epub 2020 Mar 27.

School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Objective: To determine whether step-downs, which cut the rate of compensation paid to injured workers after they have been on benefits for several months, are effective as a return to work incentive.

Methods: We aggregated administrative claims data from seven Australian workers' compensation systems to calculate weekly scheme exit rates, a proxy for return to work. Jurisdictions were further subdivided into four injury subgroups: fractures, musculoskeletal, mental health and other trauma. Read More

Cancers (Basel) 2020 Mar 12;12(3). Epub 2020 Mar 12.

Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy.

Immunotherapy has significantly changed the treatment landscape for advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with the introduction of drugs targeting programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) and programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1). In particular, the addition of the anti-PD-1 antibody pembrolizumab to platinum-pemetrexed chemotherapy resulted in a significantly improved overall survival in patients with non-squamous NSCLC, regardless of PD-L1 expression. In this preclinical study, we investigated whether chemotherapy can modulate PD-L1 expression in non-squamous NSCLC cell lines, thus potentially affecting immunotherapy efficacy. Read More

Am J Ind Med 2020 Jun 13;63(6):517-526. Epub 2020 Mar 13.

Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota Twin Cities, Minneapolis-Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Background: Nursing assistants have one of the highest injury rates in the U.S., but few population-based studies assess differential injury risk by occupation in nursing homes. Read More

Orthop J Sports Med 2020 Feb 28;8(2):2325967120904361. Epub 2020 Feb 28.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA.

Background: Controversy exits regarding performing a tenotomy versus a tenodesis of the long head of the biceps tendon (LHBT).

Purpose: To evaluate the complications after arthroscopic tenotomy of the LHBT and characterize the incidence of cosmetic deformity, cramping, subjective weakness, and continued anterior shoulder pain (ASP). Additionally, to identify patient-related factors that may predispose a patient to these complications. Read More

Muscle Nerve 2020 Jul 27;62(1):50-59. Epub 2020 Apr 27.

RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, California, USA.

Introduction: Research has shown that quality of health-care services is often suboptimal. Little is known about the quality of electrodiagnostic testing.

Methods: We prospectively recruited 477 adults with workers' compensation claims for carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) from 30 occupational health clinics and evaluated whether electrodiagnostic testing adhered to five process-oriented quality measures. Read More

Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020 02 20;17(4). Epub 2020 Feb 20.

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), 00078 Monte Porzio Catone, Rome, Italy.

Near infrared or infrared A (IRA) accounts for over 40% of the solar spectrum (SS) and is able to reach subcutaneous tissue as well as the retina. Outdoor workers are occupationally exposed to solar radiation (SR), but the level of exposure may differ widely depending on the job performed, time spent outdoors, latitude, altitude, season, personal protection, etc. Until now, risk assessment and management for outdoor workers has focused on the prevention of both acute and long-term effects on the eye and the skin due to solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) with little consideration of the other components of the SS (a possible exception is represented by visible radiation with reference to the eye). Read More

Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 2020 Feb 12. Epub 2020 Feb 12.

Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

Purpose: To examine differences in the return to work (RTW) process for workers' compensation claimants with psychological injuries compared to those with musculoskeletal (MSK) injuries.

Methods: We collected data from 869 workers' compensation claimants in Victoria, Australia, at three time points over a 12-month period (21% with psychological injury claims). RTW was assessed through self-report. Read More

PLoS One 2020 5;15(2):e0227510. Epub 2020 Feb 5.

Department of Environmental Science, Policy, and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, United States of America.

While many stakeholders believe worker wages in global supply chains are too low, there is disagreement about what, if anything, can be done to raise wages. Through a two-year quasi-experiment in an operating apparel factory, we assess the effects on productivity and profits of raising worker wages with a re-designed compensation system. We show that, even within current factory margins and constraints, important wage gains (4. Read More

Am J Ind Med 2020 May 3;63(5):435-441. Epub 2020 Feb 3.

Institute for Work and Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Introduction: The workers' compensation system covers wages and health care costs associated with work-related injuries or illnesses. We explore if dimensions of occupational health and safety vulnerability are associated with differences in reporting work-related injuries to workers' compensation boards (WCBs).

Methods: We examined data from adults reporting physical workplace injuries requiring time off or health care. Read More

Am J Ind Med 2020 Apr 28;63(4):300-311. Epub 2020 Jan 28.

School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

Background: Heat related illness (HRI) places a significant burden on the health and safety of working populations and its impacts will likely increase with climate change. The aim of this study was to characterize the demographic and occupational characteristics of Washington workers who suffered from HRI from 2006 to 2017 using workers' compensation claims data.

Methods: We used Washington workers' compensation data linked to weather station data to identify cases of work-related HRI. Read More

Ann Occup Environ Med 2019 12;31:e33. Epub 2019 Nov 12.

Department of Hematology, Seoul St. Mary's Hematology Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.

Background: The purpose of this report is to introduce the occupational cancer surveillance system, implemented in June 2018, and to share the results of our cooperative program.

Methods: The cooperative program begins when the patient is diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Newly diagnosed AML patients are admitted to the internal medicine hematology department, then attending hematology physician requests a consultation from the occupational and environmental medicine (OEM) department. Read More

Occup Environ Med 2020 03 2;77(3):185-187. Epub 2020 Jan 2.

Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Objectives: Serious mental illness is common among those who have experienced a physical workplace injury, yet little is known about mental health service use in this population. This study aims to estimate the proportion of the workplace musculoskeletal injury population experiencing a mental illness, the proportion who access mental health services through the workers' compensation system and the factors associated with likelihood of accessing services.

Methods: A longitudinal cohort study was conducted with a random sample of 615 workers' compensation claimants followed over three survey waves between June 2014 and July 2015. Read More

Clin Spine Surg 2019 Dec 27. Epub 2019 Dec 27.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL.

Study Design: This was a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To determine the improvement of clinical outcomes in Workers' Compensation (WC) patients compared with non-WC patients utilizing Patient-reported Outcome Measurement Information System Physical Function (PROMIS PF) following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF).

Summary Of Background Data: To our knowledge, there has not been a study to evaluate clinical outcomes of WC patients utilizing the PROMIS PF survey. Read More

Saf Health Work 2019 Dec 27;10(4):420-427. Epub 2019 Sep 27.

Department of Public Health, Free University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands.

Introduction: To prevent and manage the societal and economic burden of occupational diseases (ODs), countries should develop strong prevention policies, health surveillance and registry systems. This study aims to contribute to the improvement of OD surveillance at national level as well as to identify priority actions in Turkey.

Methods: The history and current status of occupational health studies were considered from the perspective of OD surveillance. Read More

Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 2020 May 23;62(3):136-145. Epub 2019 Dec 23.

Department of Occupational Health Practice and Management, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.

Objectives: This study aimed to collect and assess information about occupational health in India, for Japanese enterprises.

Methods: We conducted a preliminary survey through literature reviews and internet search engines. We then conducted interview-based surveys at a central government agency, an international organization, the Japanese embassy, educational and research institutions, and Japanese enterprises in India. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2020 02;62(2):e82

Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Dell Medical School - The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas Department of Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland.

Sangyo Eiseigaku Zasshi 2019 Dec 6. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Department of Occupational Health Management and Practice, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan.

Objectives: This study aimed to consider the appropriate occupational health system for Japanese enterprises in the Philippines based on information on the regulations and development of specialists.

Methods: We collected information using an information-gathering checklist. Along with literature and internet surveys, we conducted interviews by visiting local business sites, central government agencies in charge of medical and health issues, and educational institutions with specialized occupational physician training curricula. Read More

J Burn Care Res 2020 Feb;41(2):270-279

Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle.

Participant attrition in longitudinal studies can lead to substantial bias in study results, especially when attrition is nonrandom. A previous study of the Burn Model System (BMS) database prior to 2002 identified participant and study-related factors related to attrition. The purpose of the current study was to examine changes in attrition rates in the BMS longitudinal database since 2002 and to revisit factors associated with attrition. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2020 02;62(2):e80-e81

WorkAbility Systems, West Chester, Ohio Hyalite Rehab, Manhattan, Montana George Washington University, Washington, DC.

Lancet Infect Dis 2019 12 17;19(12):e422-e436. Epub 2019 Oct 17.

Hospital Universitario Río Hortega, Valladolid, Spain; Group for Biomedical Research in Sepsis, Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomedica En Red-Enfermedades Respiratorias, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain. Electronic address:

Increasing evidence supports a central role of the immune system in sepsis, but the current view of how sepsis affects immunity, and vice versa, is still rudimentary. The European Group on Immunology of Sepsis has identified major gaps that should be addressed with high priority, such as understanding how immunological alterations predispose to sepsis, key aspects of the immunopathological events during sepsis, and the long-term consequences of sepsis on patient's immunity. We discuss major unmet topics in those three categories, including the role of key immune cells, the cause of lymphopenia, organ-specific immunology, the dynamics of sepsis-associated immunological alterations, the role of the microbiome, the standardisation of immunological tests, the development of better animal models, and the opportunities offered by immunotherapy. Read More

Arthroscopy 2019 10;35(10):2817-2824

Division of Sports Medicine, Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A.. Electronic address:

Purpose: To examine the preoperative performance of the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) Upper Extremity (UE) Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) with respect to legacy scores in patients receiving rotator cuff repair (RCR). In addition, to define the impact of Workers' Compensation (WC) status on both performance and floor and ceiling effects.

Methods: The PROMIS UE CAT was administered preoperatively alongside legacy patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) to patients undergoing isolated arthroscopic RCR from November 2017 to September 2018. Read More

Disabil Rehabil 2019 Oct 7:1-10. Epub 2019 Oct 7.

School of Public Health and Health Systems, University of Waterloo , Waterloo , Canada.

Sickness insurance and workers' compensation systems decide on peoples' eligibility for benefits, and are commonly based on medical certificates and assessments of work ability. Systems differ in the extent to which they preserve clients' dignity and right to fair assessments. In this article, we define a new concept for studying interactions between individuals and systems: which concerns how well people understand the different procedures and regulations in social insurance systems, and how well systems communicate with clients in order to help them understand the system. Read More

Med Lav 2019 Aug 26;110(4):278-284. Epub 2019 Aug 26.

Center for Research in Occupational Disease, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

Background: Under-reporting and recognition of occupational diseases is a problem in countries with workers' compensation schemes.

Objective: To describe the role of a public hospital Occupational Disease Unit (ODU) in Barcelona that resulted in improved reporting and official recognition of occupational diseases from 2010 to 2017.

Methods: Hospital physicians referred possible cases of work-related disease to the ODU, where in-depth medical evaluations were then performed, and a detailed report addressing causation was generated. Read More

J Neurosurg Spine 2019 Aug 30:1-9. Epub 2019 Aug 30.

3Department of Neurologic Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota; and.

Objective: Patient satisfaction with treatment outcome is gaining an increasingly important role in assessing the value of surgical spine care delivery. Nationwide data evaluating the predictors of patient satisfaction in elective cervical spine surgery are lacking. The authors sought to decipher the impacts of the patient, surgical practice, and surgeon on satisfaction with outcome following anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF). Read More

Spine J 2019 12 20;19(12):1969-1976. Epub 2019 Aug 20.

Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, South Tower, Suite 4200, Nashville, TN, USA; Department of Neurological surgery, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, South Tower, Suite 4200, Nashville, TN, USA; Orthopedics of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Springs, CO, USA. Electronic address:

Background Context: Low back pain has an immense impact on the US economy. A significant number of patients undergo surgical management in order to regain meaningful functionality in daily life and in the workplace. Return to work (RTW) is a key metric in surgical outcomes, as it has profound implications for both individual patients and the economy at large. Read More

Environ Health 2019 08 7;18(1):71. Epub 2019 Aug 7.

Unit of Medical Statistics and Cancer Epidemiology, Department of Translational Medicine, University of Eastern Piedmont, via Solaroli 17, 28100, Novara, Italy.

Background: Despite the available information on cancer risk, asbestos is used in large areas in the world, mostly in the production of asbestos cement. Moreover, questions are raised regarding the shape of the dose response relation, the relation with time since exposure and the association with neoplasms in various organs. We conducted a study on the relationship between cumulative asbestos exposure and mortality from asbestos related diseases in a large Italian pool of 21 cohorts of asbestos-cement workers with protracted exposure to both chrysotile and amphibole asbestos. Read More

PeerJ 2019 26;7:e7201. Epub 2019 Jul 26.

School of Health Sciences, University of South Australia, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

Background: Bodily self-consciousness depends on the coherent integration of sensory information. In addition to visual and somatosensory information processing, vestibular contributions have been proposed and investigated. Vestibular information seems especially important for self-location, but remains difficult to study. Read More

Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2019 12 24;100(12):2260-2266. Epub 2019 Jul 24.

Rocky Mountain Regional Spinal Injury System, Craig Hospital, Englewood, Colorado; Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.

Objective: To investigate the association between insurance provider and reported assistive technology (AT) use to access computers and electronic devices 1 year after sustaining tetraplegia.

Design: Multicenter cross-sectional study.

Setting: Participants enrolled in the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems (SCIMS) National Database. Read More

J Occup Environ Med 2019 08;61(8):669-675

Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers' Compensation Authority (INAIL), Rome (Mr Scarselli, Mr Di Marzio, Dr Iavicoli); Department of Prevention, Occupational Health and Safety (SPeSAL), Local Health Authority of Bari, Bari (Dr Corfiati), Italy.

Objective: The aim of the study is to evaluate exposures to antineoplastic agents at workplaces in healthcare and manufacturing in Italy.

Methods: Data on antineoplastic agents were collected from occupational exposure registries. Statistical analysis was carried out for exposure-related variables. Read More

Occup Med (Lond) 2019 Oct;69(6):419-427

Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

Background: The emergency department (ED) is the first point of care for many patients with concussion, and post-concussion syndrome can impact vocational outcomes like successful return to work. Evaluation of concussion in general adult populations is needed.

Aims: To document the occurrence and outcomes of work-related concussion presenting to the ED for treatment. Read More

Am J Ind Med 2019 09 12;62(9):755-765. Epub 2019 Jul 12.

Department of Economics and Health Care Management, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota.

Background: The Union Construction Workers' Compensation Program (UCWCP) was developed in 1996 as an alternative workers' compensation arrangement. The program includes use of a preapproved medical and rehabilitation network and alternative dispute resolution (ADR), and prioritizes a quick and safe return-to-work. The aim of this study is to determine if differences in recovery-related outcomes exist between UCWCP and the statutory workers' compensation system (SWCS). Read More

Am J Ind Med 2019 08 10;62(8):680-690. Epub 2019 Jun 10.

Center for Health, Work & Environment, Colorado School of Public Health, University of Colorado, Aurora, CO.

Background: Few studies investigate the influence of body part injured and industry on future workers' compensation claims.

Methods: Using claims incurred from 1 January 2005 to 31 July 2015 (n = 77 494) from the largest workers' compensation insurer in Colorado, we assessed associations between worker characteristics, second claims involving any body part and the same body part. We utilized Cox proportional hazards models to approximate the probability of a second claim. Read More

Front Neurorobot 2019 19;13:42. Epub 2019 Jun 19.

Unit of Biomedical Robotics and Biomicrosystems, Universiã Bio-Medico di Roma, Rome, Italy.

Surface electromyography (sEMG) signals represent a promising approach for decoding the motor intention of amputees to control a multifunctional prosthetic hand in a non-invasive way. Several approaches based on proportional amplitude methods or simple thresholds on sEMG signals have been proposed to control a single degree of freedom at time, without the possibility of increasing the number of controllable multiple DoFs in a natural manner. Myoelectric control based on PR techniques have been introduced to add multiple DoFs by keeping low the number of electrodes and allowing the discrimination of different muscular patterns for each class of motion. Read More

J Occup Rehabil 2019 Jul 2. Epub 2019 Jul 2.

Department of Computing Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada.

Purpose The Work Assessment Triage Tool (WATT) is a clinical decision support tool developed using machine learning to help select interventions for patients with musculoskeletal disorders. The WATT categorizes patients based on individual characteristics according to likelihood of successful return to work following rehabilitation. A previous validation showed acceptable classification accuracy, but we re-examined accuracy using a new dataset drawn from the same system 2 years later. Read More

J Manag Care Spec Pharm 2019 Jul;25(7):743-751

1 University of California, San Francisco.

Background: Although medically necessary in some cases, there is growing concern that compounded medications are being overprescribed, leading to questions about safety and necessity for high use and cost. Safety concerns regarding compounded medications were highlighted by the 2013 contamination of steroid injections by the New England Compounding Center, which caused serious infections and other injuries to at least 751 patients and resulted in at least 64 patient deaths. A study contributed to our understanding of compounded medication use and cost, finding in a sample of commercially insured population that the average ingredient cost for compounded medication prescriptions was $710. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2019 08 29;30(3):657-669. Epub 2019 May 29.

UNC Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, NC Memorial Hospital, CB #7200, 101 Manning Drive, Room N1183, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.

The concepts associated with work disability are not identical to those associated with medical disability. In addition to a worker's medical condition, the resultant functional limitations, and loss of participation in society, the injured or ill worker must often navigate a complex administrative system that often seems adversarial. This process is made less adversarial with the willingness to participate of knowledgeable clinicians. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2019 08 23;30(3):599-609. Epub 2019 May 23.

SpineCare & Forensic Medicine, PLLC, 5610 East Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85712, USA.

Causation determination has become the gateway to treatment and reimbursement in workers' compensation and personal injury cases. The science of causation is constantly evolving, which is improving our understanding of individual physical thresholds, associated risk factors, and individual biopsychosocioeconomic factors. New laws place constantly changing legal thresholds for determining work-relatedness and proximate cause. Read More

Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am 2019 08 15;30(3):523-532. Epub 2019 May 15.

Soldat & Parrish-Sams, PLC, 3408 Woodland Avenue, Suite 302, West Des Moines, IA 50266, USA. Electronic address:

Injured workers deal with many struggles while healing, forced on them by problems within the workers' compensation system itself. The physician's role is critical in mitigating complicating factors that have a negative impact on recovery. The workers' compensation system is meant as a safety net, guaranteeing prompt medical care; therefore, the applicable causation standard is lower than scientific probability. Read More

J Bone Joint Surg Am 2019 Jun;101(12):1102-1108

Gluskin Granovsky Division of Orthopaedics, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Background: The use of fresh osteochondral allograft (FOCA) transplantation is a treatment option for large posttraumatic tibial osteochondral defects in young, high-demand patients. We aimed to assess the long-term outcomes of this procedure and factors impacting graft survivorship.

Methods: Evaluated were patients with a posttraumatic tibial plateau defect of >3 cm in diameter and >1 cm in depth who were treated with use of a FOCA, with or without a realignment osteotomy, before September 2007. Read More