The Twisted Story of Asymmetric Spinal Motion and Your PR-4 Report

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What is Asymmetric Spinal Motion?

Asymmetric means not symmetric, or unequal. Asymmetry of spinal motion means more movement in some directions than others.

A physical exam finding of asymmetric spinal motion is a gateway to a Diagnosis-Related Estimate (DRE) class II rating in the AMA Guides 5th Edition.

The AMA Guides 5th Edition in Chapter 15 The Spine on page 382 defines asymmetry of spinal motion as “Asymmetric motion of the spine in one of the three principle planes.”

But the AMA Guides goes to a little more effort here to help the medical examiner by stating: “To qualify as true asymmetric motion, the finding must be reproducible and consistent and the examiner must be convinced that the individual is cooperative and giving full effort.”

How to Document Asymmetric Spinal Motion in Your Report

When documenting asymmetry of spinal motion in an impairment report for rating purposes, it is helpful to the reader of your impairment report if you provide comments on muscle spasm, muscle guarding and employee cooperation. These comments also makes the observation more compelling.

When reading a report that includes the finding of asymmetry of spinal motion look for comments on muscle spasm, muscle guarding and employee cooperation.

California PR-4 Reports are about reproducible observations and findings. Reports that are minimally supported may be more confusing than helpful, and lead to costly delay for the medical examiner, the insurance administrator, and, of course, the injured worker and the employer.

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Muscle Guarding

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Muscle guarding is simply the body trying to avoid a painful stimulus. When irritable muscles are touched, they don’t like it and try to pull away.

A physical exam finding of muscle guarding is a gateway to a Diagnosis-Related Estimate (DRE) class II rating in the AMA Guides 5th Edition.

The AMA Guides 5th Edition in Chapter 15, The Spine, on page 382 defines “Muscle Guarding” as “a contraction of of muscle to minimize motion or agitation of the injured or diseased tissue.” Don’t confuse this with muscle spasm, which is an “involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.”

Associated finding may include loss of the low back contour (lordosis) and may have “reproducible loss of spinal motion.”

If you’re writing a PR-4 report

When documenting muscle guarding in an impairment report for rating purposes, it is helpful to the reader if comments on lordosis and actual measured spinal motion are provided. These comments also makes the observation more compelling.

If you’re reading a PR-4 report

When reading a report which includes the finding of muscle spam look for comments on lordosis and evidence of loss of spinal range of motion.

California PR-4 Reports are about reproducible observations and findings. Reports that are minimally supported may be more confusing than helpful, and lead to costly delay.

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What Is Muscle Spasm Anyway?

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Muscle spasm is probably the most elusive and non-reproducible exam finding on spine examination. It is difficult to assess because it is ambiguous and a continuum between examiners.

For example, a spasm on your examination may not be considered a spasm on mine. If findings are suppose to be reproducible between two examiners, you can see how this might pose a problem.

A physical exam finding of muscle spasm is a gateway to a Diagnosis-Related Estimate (DRE) class II rating in the AMA Guides 5th Edition.

The AMA Guides 5th Edition in Chapter 15 The Spine on page 382 defines muscle spasm as “involuntary contraction of a muscle or group of muscles.” It is a diagnosis made by feeling “a hard muscle”. Is should be present in both the standing and lying position, and “frequently” causes a scoliosis.

How To Document Muscle Spasm in Your Impairment Report

When documenting muscle spasm in an impairment report for rating purposes, it is helpful to the reader if the side, and spine level of the spasm is documented. Additional comments on persistence with positional change and influence on spinal alignment is useful and makes the observation more compelling.

When reading a report which includes the finding of muscle spasm, look for the associated findings positional persistence and scoliosis.

California PR-4 Reports are about reproducible observations and findings. Reports that are minimally supported may be more confusing than helpful, and lead to costly delay.

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Work Restriction Management: The 300 Level Course

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Imagine This

An injured worker has a chemical exposure on the job to the left eye which results in redness burning of the eye with minor changes in vision acuity which corrected to normal (20/20) with lenses. Skin examination is clear. The employee is placed off work for three days for rest, prescription treatment and recovery.

In the interval of the following 72 hours, the employee develops a blistering rash limited to the 2nd branch (V2) of the trigeminal nerve, and is diagnosed with “shingles” by her primary care doctor, and placed off work for a week. The employee is not able to appear for follow up and a status check because the primary care doctor instructed her not to drive.

The employer’s insurance adjuster wants to know the work status at 73 hours. How does the managing industrial provider respond?

Answer

The correct response to the insurance adjuster is “Work status is unknown, pending additional clinical evaluation.”

The above scenario is difficult to navigate because an industrial event has a non-industrial overlay, making opinions on work status confusing. The key is to clearly separate the two events, and simply report the objective information available to the industrial medical provider to comment on the ability to work.

Remember, the answers to work status, when given limited medical information and clinical exam information is yes, no, or I don’t know. All are acceptable answers if the circumstances are clearly communicated to the employer and the insurance adjuster.

All three parties (employee, adjuster and employer) are anxious to understand their responsibilities in a situation such as this. Is the employee to be compensated with workers’ comp benefits or sick leave on a non-industrial basis? It’s an excellent question.

Epilogue

This particular case resulted in a follow up call to the employee from the industrial medical provider. At this discussion it was determined that the symptoms from the original chemical work exposure had not improved, and now additional overlay of the shingles causes a new set of symptoms and pain. It was carefully determined that the original symptoms have persisted, and the symptoms of shingles have now added an additional set of problems. The industrial medical provider outlined to the employer that the employee has persistent baseline symptoms that continue, despite the complication of the shingles. The employee was referred to an ophthalmologist on an industrial basis to investigate the ongoing complaints of the pain and redness, and to see the health plan ophthalmologist for shingles treatment recommendation.

Keeping a clear separation between industrial injury circumstances and non-industrial conditions is essential for clear and well reasoned management of work restrictions. Remember, everyone has a vested interest in honoring work restrictions and making reasonable accommodations available for the injured worker.

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