Return to work following operation.
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Convalescence↗
SEARCH · PubMed Health
Results for “WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION”
Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.
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The compensation patient and the physician.
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Humans↗
Silicosis among gemstone workers in South Africa: tiger's-eye pneumoconiosis.
Six cases of silicosis in workers involved in the processing of semiprecious gem stones have been seen in our clinic since 1976. They had been employed as stone sculptors in lapidaries where they processed tiger's-eye, rose quartz, amethyst, quartz crystal, and a variety of other locally occurring semiprecious stones. In five of the cases, exposure was in small and poorly regulated lapidaries without specific dust control measures. The sixth was detected during the course of a health and hygiene survey (including dust sampling) that was conducted in one of two lapidaries still operating in our area. Progressive massive fibrosis (PMF) or accelerated silicosis was noted in four of the six cases, three of whom had progression of their disease after cessation of exposure. With the development of PMF, the initial restrictive pulmonary function abnormalities were followed by steadily worsening airflow obstruction. Lung biopsies confirmed silicosis in three cases. Tuberculosis was confirmed in two cases and suspected and treated in a third. Workmen's Compensation was awarded in five cases. The survey confirmed that in semiprecious gem stone processing, the risk of silicosis appears to be confined to stone sculptors. Tried and proven techniques of general and local exhaust ventilation combined with water or oil to control dust at source were capable of effectively reducing dust emission to acceptable levels.
Adult↗
The effect of prolonged exposure to industrial noise on otosclerosis.
More than 3000 workers referred by the Workmen's Compensation Board of Ontario have been evaluated for pension for industrial hearing loss. They include the normal proportion of otosclerotics, many of whom have had surgical therapy. The operations have been done by a wide variety of surgeons in the province of Ontario, and the results are representative of those which will be obtained in a large section of the Canadian community. The results are significantly worse than generally quoted, and some of the deficiencies are attributable to occupation. These include perilymph fistula from excessive straining and sensorineural hearing loss due to noise exposure. Detailed results will be presented.
Disability Evaluation↗
"Supraspinatus slide" for rotator cuff repair.
The supraspinatus slide procedure described by Debeyre et al. (1965) offers an opportunity for the surgeon to repair certain large and late ruptures of the rotator cuff. In order to re-appraise this procedure and clarify its indications, the authors performed the following study: Firstly 37 rotator cuff ruptures repaired by this method were reviewed. Most of the patients were supplied by the Workmen's Compensation Board of Ontario. The review period was from 1968 to 1977. Secondly, the surgical anatomy of the area was reviewed. Twenty-two (60%) of the patients obtained satisfactory results. They were relieved of pain, gained functional improvement and returned to their previous or a modified occupation. Although the vulnerability of the suprascapular nerve and artery was demonstrated in anatomical dissections, no neurological sequelae were noted and the muscle remained viable in all patients. Electro-myographical studies failed to show supraspinatus muscle denervation in any case. The procedure proved to be useful in the repair of large rotator cuff ruptures that are not amenable to other methods of repair. A young well motivated patient with chronic disability may benefit from this procedure.
Adult↗
Needlestick injuries among resident physicians.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency and causes of needlestick injuries in medical and surgical housestaff. DESIGN: A retrospective survey. SETTING: Urban university teaching hospital. PARTICIPANTS: 386 housestaff; 221 responded. INTERVENTION: Survey questionnaire. MAIN RESULTS: 1) Frequency of needlestick: Of 221 respondents, 57 (26%) reported never having had a needlestick, while 164 (74%) reported at least one needlestick injury with a suture or hollow-bore needle. The average frequencies were 0.63 per resident-year among 149 non-surgical residents and 3.8 per resident-year among 72 surgical residents. Among residents in internal medicine, 12 of 78 needlestick injuries (15%) sustained were from patients documented to be HIV-positive. 2) Causes of needlestick: The causes of injury were assessed in detail in a sample of the 157 most recent needlestick injuries. Suturing was the cause in 35 of 61 (57%) surgical residents, while recapping needles was the cause in 36 of 96 (38%) non-surgical residents. Inexperience was not the cause of injury; in 94% of cases the residents felt comfortable performing the procedure, and in 74% of cases the residents had performed the procedure more than 50 times before. 3) Reporting of injury: Only 30 (19%) of 157 injuries were reported to the personnel health service, thus compromising documentation for potential workmen's compensation. CONCLUSIONS: Needlestick injuries are common among medical and surgical housestaff. Efforts should be made to prevent needlestick injuries and to report those that occur.
Academic Medical Centers↗
Occupational health in Singapore.
Singapore, a newly industrializing country in Southeast Asia, has a resident population of 3 million and a work force of 1.75 million. Most workers are employed in the manufacturing, services, and commerce sectors. Agricultural and mining activities are negligible. In 1996 the infant mortality rate was 3.8 per 1,000 live births and the life expectancy at birth was 77 years. In 1996 the total industrial accident rate was 2.7 per million man-hours worked and the severity rate was 353 industrial man-days lost per million man-hours worked. The shipbuilding and construction industries had the most frequent and most severe accidents. In the same year, 1,521 cases of occupational disease were notified to, and confirmed by, the Ministry of Labor. The majority of cases involved noise-induced hearing loss. There is substantial underreporting of cases. New cases that are expected to appear will be work-related illnesses such as musculoskeletal or psychosocial disorders. The principal occupational health legislation in Singapore is the Factories Act. Although it selectively targets workers at highest risk of developing occupational illness, its main limitation is the exclusion of nonfactory workers, who comprise 63% of the working population. Labor regulations are enforced by the Ministry of Labor. Workmen's compensation paid in 1995 amounted to S $46.6 million (U.S. $1=S $1.75). Education and training in occupational health is provided by employer federations, employee unions, and various government agencies. Occupational health is taught to medical students during their undergraduate training. Postgraduate-diploma and Masters programs in occupational medicine are also available. About 600 doctors in Singapore have some form of postgraduate training in occupational health. Health care for workers is offered either through the private sector or through government clinics and hospitals. Although Singapore has made great strides in protecting and promoting the health of its workers, it must constantly strive to strengthen its commitment to occupational health and safety. New problems in the next century must be anticipated and solutions, implemented. Improved training and development of health professionals is needed such that they be better prepared to deliver optimal occupational health care. Finally, labor legislation must be appropriate and responsive to protect the health of all workers.
Accidents, Occupational↗
Diagnosis and management of functional visual deficits.
Patients with functional or nonorganic visual disturbances are often seen in general ophthalmology practice and then referred to neurology and/or neuro-ophthalmology. The diagnosis of functional vision loss requires comprehensive examinations and diagnostic testing to eliminate possible organic entities. Inconsistencies between examinations may be key to the functional/nonorganic nature. These cases represent some of the most time-consuming diagnoses that an ophthalmologist sees. These patients may be malingering or may have already seen multiple physicians. The more sophisticated patients may go online to learn about an entity that they are trying to mimic. Large amounts of time and money may be spent on diagnostic workups that are thought necessary to prove that there is nothing organic involved. Occasionally there are legal elements of the vision loss, such as minor trauma, in which case the history is key; the complaints tend to resolve when the legal issues are resolved. Another issue to consider is whether someone claiming to be blind is trying to qualify for workmen's compensation or disability.
Journal Article↗
Trauma systems in Europe.
For prehospital care, Switzerland developed the first helicopter air rescue system but it has been surpassed by the Federal Republic of Germany, where a coordinated rescue system of physician-equipped air and terrestrial transport has been developed. With regard to hospital care of trauma victims, three systems have evolved. In Austria and the Federal Republic of Germany, the "general surgeon-traumatologist" is in charge. In these countries, the Workmen's Compensation Board restricts treatment privileges to trauma surgeons. In Switzerland and Holland, general surgeons in regional hospitals and to some extent also in university centers have largely remained responsible for trauma, including fractures. In Great Britain, as in other major European countries like France, Italy, and Spain, trauma of the locomotor system is the domain of orthopedic surgeons, with multiple trauma and body cavities remaining the responsibility of general surgeons. Overall, there is a general tendency to create integrated trauma care systems within large hospital settings. Although an experienced general surgeon can function as the leader of the trauma team, such implementation has, for the most part, not occurred.
Emergency Medical Services↗
Guidelines for the clinical evaluation of hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Report of the Subcommittee on Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis.
In general, a history of exposure to "moldy" hay, birds, or other incriminated occupational or environmental inhalants in a patient with clinical and radiologic features consistent with HSP should lead to the demonstration of serum precipitins to the suspected antigen and an established diagnosis, confirmed by avoidance of the agent involved. Occasionally, other diagnostic procedures are required. The diagnosis is often difficult in domestic exposures, such as humidification and air conditioning systems. A careful environmental history is essential, and at times the physician must inspect the patient's environment personally. In most cases, the diagnosis is established if (1) the history and physical findings and pulmonary function tests indicate an interstitial lung disease, (2) the x-ray film is consistent, (3) there is exposure to a recognized cause, and (4) there is antibody to that antigen. In other exceptional circumstances, bronchoalveolar lavage may help. Biopsy is rarely needed. Special environmental studies and identification of new antigens require research facilities. Provocation tests are research procedures, not necessary for the diagnosis, and not needed in contested workmen's compensation adjudications.
Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic↗
Trauma-related thoracic outlet syndrome.
181 patients treated for thoracic outlet syndrome by first rib resection were reviewed. 88 (49%) indicated a single traumatic event which precipitated the thoracic outlet syndrome. 79% of patients with a history of a single traumatic episode had good to excellent results after first rib resection. A separate group of 18 patients developed work-related thoracic outlet syndrome due to repetitive activities. Ratings of good to excellent results were lower (66%) among workmen's compensation cases.
Adult↗
Pain control: mastery through group experience.
This paper describes a group program which is part of the therapeutic management of out-patients with chronic pain at the multidisciplinary Pain Clinic in Hamilton, Ontario (McMaster Division, Chedoke-McMaster Hospital). The programme seeks to assist chronic pain sufferers in developing more adaptive coping styles. Groups of 12--14 patients meet for 9 weeks, 3 h/week, under the co-leadership of a physiotherapist and an occupational therapist with backgrounds in psychology and psychiatry. Seventy-five patients with diverse aetiologies of chronic pain have completed these "pain control classes". Outcome was assessed on the basis of several parameters. Results indicate a considerable reduction in depression, pain perception and analgesic intake. Conversely, employment figures increased from 20 to 48% after completion of the program. 21% were considered failures. Significant variables differentiating successes from failures were sex, marital status, work incentive, employment and absence of litigation or Workmen's Compensation claims.
Adult↗
Predicting treatment response in depressed and non-depressed chronic pain patients.
Although it has often been observed that chronic pain and depression are associated, there have been few systematic comparisons of chronic pain patients with and without depression. In the study reported in this article, depressed and non-depressed chronic pain patients were found to be quite similar with respect to demographic, pain-related, and treatment response variables. The primary aim of the study, however, was to examine the hypothesis that treatment response in these two groups of patients would be predicted by different patterns of variables. In non-depressed patients, beneficial response to treatment was related to a greater number of treatment visits, not receiving workmen's compensation, fewer previous types of treatment, and low back pain. As predicted, a different pattern of predictors of treatment response was found for the depressed patients, who were more likely to benefit when they were employed at the beginning of treatment and when their pain was of shorter duration. These results suggest that activity and active involvement in treatment are particularly important with chronic pain patients who are depressed. In addition, they suggest that the best prediction of treatment response in future research on chronic pain patients may be achieved by dividing patients into groups based on psychological characteristics.
Chronic Disease↗
Arthroscopic subacromial decompression: a clinical review.
Arthroscopic subacromial decompression has become a popular technique supplanting the open Neer acromioplasty in many instances of chronic rotator cuff disease. A review of 61 consecutive decompressions with a minimum follow-up of 12 months was undertaken to evaluate preoperative criteria and surgical outcomes. Of the 61 patients, 53 patients with an average follow-up of 23 months were available for review. Thirty-four men and 19 women with an average age of 47 years comprised the study group. Eleven (21%) had full-thickness tears, 35 (66%) had partial-thickness injuries, and 7 (13%) had normal-appearing rotator cuffs at the time of arthroscopy. The UCLA shoulder rating system was used to evaluate outcome. Eighty-one percent of the patients had an excellent (32%) or good (49%) result whereas 19% (15% fair and 4% poor) were considered unsatisfactory. Those with early impingement findings and partial rotator cuff tears were likely to experience a satisfactory outcome. Patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears were less likely to experience a successful result (55%). Workmen's compensation cases had a satisfactory outcome in 74%, with a predominance of good over excellent results. Excluding those with full-thickness tears and work-related injuries, a satisfactory outcome was achieved in 90%. Arthroscopic subacromial decompression for mechanical impingement of the rotator cuff is a technically demanding procedure requiring appropriate skills as well as careful preoperative treatment and evaluation. For individuals in whom conservative measures fail and who meet stringent criteria, namely, a largely intact rotator cuff and a non-work-related injury, a highly reliable and satisfying outcome can be anticipated by both patient and surgeon.
Acromion↗
Positive straight-leg raising in lumbar radiculopathy: is documentation affected by insurance coverage?
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether differences exist in documentation of straight-leg raising (SLR), based on insurance coverage. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Managed care organization (MCO). PARTICIPANTS: Two hundred people with a diagnosis of lumbar radiculopathy or herniated disk were referred to an MCO for authorization of further treatment. Half were self-directed under a personal injury program (PIP) after automobile collisions, and half were covered under a managed care workmen's compensation (WC) program. INTERVENTIONS: Not applicable. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Documentation of an SLR test, strength, sensation, and/or reflexes were eligible for the study. The results of SLR were coded as 0, 1, or 2, for absent, positive unilateral, and positive bilateral, respectively. Additional information included subject age, sex, date of injury, provider type, and presence of attorney representation RESULTS: A positive (unilateral, bilateral) SLR in women was 7.4 times more likely if they were covered by PIP than by WC (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4-38.7; P=.018). For men, a positive SLR was 23.5 times more likely if they were covered by a PIP (95% CI, 2.9-189.9; P=.003). The odds of bilateral SLR (radicular pain on both sides) were even more strongly associated with type of reimbursement. For women, bilateral SLR was 105.1 times more likely if they were covered by a PIP than by WC (95% CI, 11.1-992.6; P<.001). For men, bilateral SLR was 38.9 times more likely if covered by a PIP (95% CI, 11.3-133.6; P<.001). CONCLUSIONS: Reasons for reporting higher rates of positive SLR in the PIP group include an added incentive to treat, poor knowledge of proper interpretation of the SLR test, and/or an increased exaggeration of symptoms.
Accidents, Traffic↗
Reasonable care and unreasonable fatigue.
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Fatigue↗