Impacto Laboral, Económico, y Clínico Funcional en la Artrodesis Lumbar / Labor, economic, and clinical functional impact of lumbar arthrodesis

Introducción: El dolor lumbar, constituye un grave problema de salud, en España ocupa el primer puesto como causa de Incapacidad Temporal (IT). Diversos estudios han intentado responder a la cuestión de si compensa realizar intervenciones más intensivas. El objetivo del proyecto es analizar el gasto sanitario ocasionado, valorando los costes de IT al emplear el tratamiento conservador y con tratamiento quirúrgico. Material y Métodos: Estudio prospectivo comparativo entre pacientes con patología degenerativa lumbar tratados quirúrgicamente, y de manera conservadora. Se recogieron la edad y sexo, hábitos tóxicos, tratamiento farmacológico, actividad laboral, los segmentos afectados, y el número de días en situación de IT, con un seguimiento de 3 años. Resultados: Un total de 94 pacientes fueron incluidos en el estudio (55 pertenecían al grupo control, y 39 al grupo artrodesis). Los pacientes que fueron operados llevaban más días de IT, y entrañaban más costes de IT (p=0,018). Comparando los costes de la intervención quirúrgica para el grupo artrodesis vemos que no existen diferencias entre los pacientes jubilados/ en situación de incapacidad permanente. Después de tres años de seguimiento, el 89,1% del grupo control y el 52,6% del grupo artrodesis recibieron el alta. Conclusión: Los costes de incapacidad transitoria fueron mayores en los pacientes sometidos a tratamiento quirúrgico. Los pacientes que no recibieron el alta supusieron mayores costes de IT. En los pacientes que recibieron el alta no hubo diferencias en los costes, descontando el coste del proceso quirúrgico. (AU)

Introduction: Low back pain is a serious health problem, and in Spain it occupies first place as a cause of Temporary Disability (TD). Several studies have tried to answer the question of whether it is worthwhile to carry out more intensive interventions. The project aims to analyze the health care costs incurred, assessing the costs of TD when conservative treatment and surgical treatment are used. Material and methods: Prospective comparative study between patients with lumbar degenerative pathology treated surgically and conservatively. Age and sex, toxic habits, pharmacological treatment, work activity, affected segments, and the number of days on TI were recorded, with a follow-up of 3 years. Results: A total of 94 patients were included in the study (55 belonged to the control group and 39 to the arthrodesis group). Patients who underwent surgery had more days of TD and more TD costs (p=0.018). Comparing the costs of surgery for the arthrodesis group, we see that there are no differences between retired/permanently disabled patients. After three years of follow-up, 89.1% of the control group and 52.6% of the arthrodesis group were discharged. Conclusion: Transitional disability costs were higher in patients who underwent surgical treatment. Patients who were not discharged had higher TD costs. In patients who were discharged, there were no differences in costs, discounting the cost of the surgical process. (AU)

Incapacidad laboral permanente por patología vestibular en conductores profesionales: un estudio transversal / Permanent work disability due to vestibular pathology in professional drivers: a cross-sectional study

Introducción: la Patología Vestibular afecta a la capacidad laboral y personal de los pacientes que sufren esta enfermedad. Método: estudio observacional, descriptivo, analítico y transversal. Como población de estudio se ha comparado a los conductores profesionales frente al resto de profesiones. Las variables usadas han sido: comunidad autónoma, género, edad, patología vestibular, situación de incapacidad temporal, tipo de contingencia, régimen de cotización, CNAE-2009, profesión (CNO-11), tipo de inicio de expediente, calificación, resolución del expediente y tiempo que tarda en resolverse en función de la resolución del expediente. Resultados: la muestra de expedientes estudiados ha sido de 597, que corresponden a los expedientes por incapacidad permanente presentados en España durante el 2018 para obtener la calificación de incapacitado permanente, o bien denegar dicha prestación. Del total de expedientes valorados, 72 (12.06%) corresponde a conductores profesionales y 525 (87.94%) al resto de categorías. El sexo mayoritario corresponde a hombres (326, 54.61%) con una franja de edad >55 años (276, 46.23%). Con la categoría de enfermedad común aparecen 574 expedientes (96.15%) y el 53.94% (n=322) de estos se inician de oficio. De todos los expedientes presentados, el 55.61% (n=270) tienen una calificación de no incapacitado y el 35.85% (n=214) de incapacidad total. En el contraste de hipótesis hemos obtenido una Odds Ratio de 2.42 (IC95%: 1.42-4.19) con p<0.001. Conclusiones: ser conductor profesional es un factor de riesgo para que un expediente de incapacidad permanente por patología vestibular se resuelva de forma favorable. (AU)

Introduction: vestibular disease affects occupational and personal capacities of those patients who suffers this disease. Method: observational, descriptive, analytic and transversal study. As population for study, we compare the professional drivers to the rest of professional workers. The variables used are: Autonomous community, gender, age, vestibular disease, temporal disability situation, type of contingency, contribution rates, CNAE-2009, Profession (CON-11), start of record, qualifications, expedient resolution, and the time it takes for a case resolution according to case resolution variable. Results: the total sample of study shows 597 cases, those are the cases that have been evaluated for permanent disability by vestibular disease in Spain during 2008, that eventually are qualified for permanent disability or whether not. Of the total sample of cases evaluated, 72 (12.06%) correspond to professional drivers and 525 (87.94%) to the rest of professionals. The majority gender group correlates to males, with a total of 326 cases (54.61%) with an age group superior to 55 years old (276, 46.23%). In the category of Common diseases it appears 574 cases (96.15%) and all of these, 53.94% (n=322) were initiated ex officio. Of all cases presented, 55.61% (n=270) present a resolution of not disabled and the 35.85% (n=214) with total disability. In the hypothesis testing we obtain an Odds’ ratio result of 2.42 (IC95%: 1.42-4.19) with p<0.001. Conclusions: being professional driver is a risk factor for those cases where permanent disability would be resolved in a favourable way. (AU)

Análisis descriptivo de los expedientes de incapacidad permanente por epicondilitis en trabajadores de la industria alimentaria / Descriptive analysis of permanent disability files for epicondylitis in food industry workers

Introducción: Los trastornos musculoesqueléticos (TME) representan un importante problema de salud entre los trabajadores de países industrializados siendo la principal causa de incapacidad temporal (IT) y permanente (IP) en nuestro país. En la industria de la alimentación se llevan a cabo tareas que implican movimientos repetitivos, posturas forzadas y estáticas derivando en patologías de miembro superior y columna. Este tipo de labores pueden originar patologías tendinosas entre las que se encuentra la epicondilitis, desencadenada por movimientos repetitivos de extensión de la muñeca y prono-supinación del antebrazo. Objetivos: Establecer la prevalencia de expedientes de IP presentados por epicondilitis en trabajadores de la industria alimentaria. Estratificar los expedientes de IP presentados por los trabajadores de la industria alimentaria, tanto los expedientes por epicondilitis como los expedientes por el resto de TME, en función de: edad, género, Comunidades Autónomas (CCAA), código CIE-9, quién inicia el expediente, calificación, resolución, tipo de contingencia, régimen de cotización y clasificación CNO-11. Analizar las variables contingencia y la calificación respecto al resto de variables. Identificar sector susceptible de implementar mejoras en la actividad preventiva. Método: El presente estudio descriptivo transversal se llevará a cabo mediante la recogida de información a través de la base de datos Alfa (Automatización del Procedimiento de Gestión de Prestaciones) del Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social (INSS). Se utilizará el programa estadístico R Core Team 2021, versión 4.0.5. para el análisis descriptivo de los datos. (AU)

Introduction: Musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) represent a major health problem among workers in industrialized countries and are the main cause of temporary and permanent work disability in our country. In the food industry, tasks that involve repetitive movements, forced and static postures are carried out, resulting in upper limb and spine pathologies. This type of work can cause tendon pathologies, among which is epicondylitis, triggered by repetitive movements of wrist extension and prono-supination of the forearm. Objectives: To establish the prevalence of Permanent Disability files filed for epicondylitis presented in food industry workers. To stratify the Permanent Disability files presented by food industry workers, both the files for epicondylitis and the files for the rest of musculoskeletal disorders, according to: age, gender, Autonomous Community, CIE-9 code, who initiates the file, qualification, resolution, type of professional contingency, contribution regime and CNO-11 classification. To analyze the professional contingency and qualification variables with respect to the rest of variables. To identify sectors susceptible to implementing improvements in preventive activity. Method: This cross-sectional descriptive study will be carried out by collecting the data through the Alfa database (Automation of the Benefit Management Procedure) of the National Social Security Institute. The statistical program R Core Team 2021, version 4.0.5. will be used for the descriptive analysis of the data. (AU)

La incapacidad temporal laboral en los tiempos del COVID-19, aspectos preventivos y consecuencias / Temporary incapacity for work (sick leave) in the times of COVID-19, preventive aspects and consequences

Introducción: La incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 fue regulada de forma expresa, mediante diversas normas e instrucciones, cubriendo tanto el aislamiento por contacto, por infección o para trabajadores sensibles. Supuso la integración de la protección preventiva laboral amparada su protección en una la prestación económica dotada de mayor cuantía. Analizando las consecuencias de la pandemia en la primera ola, confinamiento, desescalada y vuelta a la normalidad, meses de marzo a octubre, el impacto «colapsante» del COVID-19 en el sistema sanitario supuso la paralización y el aumento de listas de espera para pruebas, operaciones y consultas no urgentes del resto de patologías, y consecuentemente un elevado incremento de la duración media de las bajas laborales por todos los procesos, en el confinamiento y la desescalada en un 84,48% y en un 25,27% las bajas prolongadas que alcanzaron más de 365 días. En consecuencia, el COVID-19 como efecto colateral supuso una mala evolución del resto de procesos, prolongando la duración de las incapacidades temporales, lo que supone un empeoramiento de la salud laboral, un riesgo mayor de no retorno al trabajo que sucede en las bajas largas, mayor riesgo de desempleo, un mayor gasto en prestaciones y un deterioro económico para empresas y autónomos. La incapacidad temporal por COVID-19 suponía al final de octubre 2020 el 38,73% de todas las bajas. Material y Método: Se analizaron los datos suministrados por la Seguridad Social, por el INSS y el Ministerio de Sanidad, se elaboraron para poder extraer datos para poder valorar el impacto del COVID-19 en la incapacidad temporal laboral. Se revisaron hasta octubre de 2019 las siguientes bases de datos bibliográficas: SciELO, PUBMED. Así mismo otras referencias que incluimos en bibliografía. Objetivo: Recoger de forma sintética la norma aplicable, las situaciones protegidas, y cuantificar el impacto en las bajas, incapacidad laboral, de la pandemia. (AU)

Introduction: Temporary disability due to COVID-19 was expressly regulated, through various rules and instructions, covering both isolation by contact, by infection or for sensitive workers. It involved the integration of preventive labor protection covered by its protection in a financial benefit with the highest amount. Analyzing the consequences of the pandemic in the first wave, confinement, de-escalation and return to normality, months from March to October, the «collapsing» impact of COVID-19 on the health system led to the paralysis and increase of waiting lists for tests, operations and non-urgent consultations of the rest of pathologies, and consequently a high increase in the average duration of sick leave for all processes, in confinement and de-escalation in 84.48% and in 25.27% the prolonged casualties that reached more than 365 days. Consequently, COVID-19 as a collateral effect led to a poor evolution of the rest of the processes, prolonging the duration of temporary disabilities, which implies a worsening of occupational health, a greater risk of not returning to work that occurs during sick leave long, higher risk of unemployment, higher spending on benefits and economic decline for companies and the self-employed. Temporary disability due to COVID-19 accounted for 38.73% of all casualties at the end of October 2020. (AU)

Algunos aspectos sobre el desarrollo profesional de la medicina evaluadora de incapacidades laborales / Some aspects of the professional development of Evaluative Medicine of incapacity for work

La medicina evaluadora de incapacidades laborales es aquella rama u orientación de la medicina evaluadora que tiene por objetivo valorar la repercusión funcional del cuadro clínico de un trabajador, a efectos de que se determine la existencia o no de algún tipo y grado de incapacidad laboral. Es, por tanto, una aplicación práctica de la medicina que queda fuera del ámbito asistencial y que es ejercida, entre otros, por los médicos inspectores adscritos a la Seguridad Social en España. En el momento presente, los autores consideran necesario el desarrollo e implantación en España de unos estudios específicos que cualifiquen para la práctica de esta rama de la medicina, que pueden encajar como una modalidad de área de capacitación específica para diferentes especialidades médicas, buscando así dotar del mayor rigor científico en las evaluaciones médicas. Igualmente consideran necesaria, en el ámbito médico de la Seguridad Social, el desarrollo de oportunidades de ascenso y expectativas de progreso profesional conforme a los principios de igualdad, mérito y capacidad, lo que implica un sistema de carrera profesional. (AU)

Evaluative Medicine of incapacity for work is a branch or orientation of Medicine that aims to assess the functional repercussions of a worker’s clinical picture, for the purpose of determining whether there is some type and degree of work disability. It is, therefore, a practical application of Medicine that is outside the scope of health care and is carried out, among others, by the medical officers assigned to the Social Security (National Health Service) in Spain. At the present time, the authors consider it necessary to develop and implement specific studies in Spain to qualify for the practice of this branch of Medicine, which could fit in as a specific training area for different medical specialties, thus seeking to provide greater scientific rigor in medical evaluations. They also deem it necessary, in the medical field of Social Security, to develop opportunities for promotion and expectations of professional progress in accordance with the principles of equality, merit and ability, which are implied in a professional career system. (AU)

A Societal Sleep Prescription.

We are suffering a global sleep-loss epidemic. The health consequences within an individual are well characterized. But does society suffer just as much? Here, I discuss how insufficient sleep erodes our societal fabric as much as it does our biological fabric, and offer some prescriptive remedies.

A Retrospective Descriptive Study of Nurses With Substance Use Disorders in Texas.

There are approximately 3.1 million nurses in the Unites States (U.S. Census Bureau, 2016), and approximately 8% of them experience substance use disorders (Kunyk, 2015). Nurses with impaired practice are referred to peer assistance programs as they seek rehabilitation. As of 2016, 348 nurses in Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses were actively participating in the program for substance-abuse-related offenses. Over the last 6 years (2010-2016), 1,553 nurses were referred to Texas Peer Assistance Program for Nurses specifically for substance-abuse-related problems. These represent 2% of the population of nurses in Texas. The average age of participants was 40.1 years. Women represented 75% of participants, and 76% were registered nurses. About 41% successfully completed the program without relapsing, and 32% reported at least one relapse. Varieties of drugs were abused including prescription drugs and illegal drugs. Opioids were the most frequently abused class of drugs, followed by alcohol and stimulants. Most nurses obtained their drugs by diverting from patients. Contrary to what is in the literature, nurses working in long-term care, medical-surgical units, and home health care had the highest prevalence of impaired practice. Psychiatric comorbidity was not significantly associated with relapse, but self-report status was significantly associated with gender, age category, license type, relapse, and drug of choice. There was a significant inverse relationship between time it takes to enroll and number of abstinent days. Men were also more likely to be employed while in the program.

Alcohol and the Law.

In the intersection of alcohol ingestion with the law, medical ethics, and public safety, physicians are often unsure about how to proceed. Physicians' primary focus should be on patient education with an ethical and legal duty to warn the patient of the adverse effects of alcohol. Warning third parties of potential harm related to alcohol-related impairment may involve a breach of patient confidentiality; therefore it should only be undertaken after careful analysis suggests that the risk for significant harm exceeds the burden that results to the patient from warning others. The law remains vague in this area.

Aspects épidémiologiques et cliniques des accidents du travail avec incapacité permanente partielle : à propos de 221 cas colligés

Les accidents du travail (AT) sont fréquents et s'accompagnent souvent de lourdes conséquences pour l'individu, la communauté et l'employeur, occasionnant dans certains cas des séquelles dont il faut déterminer le taux d'incapacité permanente partielle (IPP). L'étude était transversale et analytique. Elle s'est déroulée sur une période de cinq années allant de 2012 à 2016, et a concerné tous les dossiers complets d'accidents du travail avec Incapacité Permanente Partielle AT/IPP enregistrés à la Direction régionale de Ouagadougou de la Caisse Nationale de Sécurité Sociale. Les résultats descriptifs ont été présentés sous forme univariée et bivariée. L'échantillon était constitué de 221 cas d'AT/IPP extraits parmi les dossiers d'AT déclarés à Ouagadougou, soit un taux de 4,49 % (221/4922). L'échantillon était constitué de 54 femmes (24,4 3%) et 167 hommes (75,57 %). L'âge moyen était de 40,09 ± 8,8 ans (16 - 62 ans), avec une sinistralité plus fréquente dans le secteur des « services fournis à la collectivité, services sociaux et services personnels » (38,46 %). Plus de 2/3 des cas étaient des « employés » (67,42 %). Les accidents de trajet constituaient la majorité des sinistres (62 %). Ils survenaient en matinée entre 6 heures et 8 heures (45,25 %) et le véhicule de transport était le principal élément agent matériel causal (64,71 %). Les AT/IPP ont causé des fractures des membres (48,88 %) et entrainé 110 cas d'impotence fonctionnelle (49 %) et en moyenne 103 journées de travail perdues (3 - 848 jours). La prévention des AT/IPP devra intégrer des modules sur la sécurité routière

Substance Use Disorders and the American Nurses Association Code of Ethics for Nurses.

Substance use disorder is a serious problem in nursing that is often invisible and not well understood or well handled. It tears at the social contract between nursing and society and disrupts the trust so essential to that contract. The American Nurses Association Code of Ethics contains clear language about a nurse's duty to take action to protect patients and to ensure the impaired nurse gets assistance. Specific interpretive statements provide useful guidance in dealing with this problem.

Segmentación de la incidencia de la incapacidad temporal según su duración como estrategia de análisis / The analysis of sickness absence incidence by subgroups of duration

Introducción: Se describe la utilidad de realizar un análisis de la incidencia de incapacidad temporal (IT) segmentado según la duración de los episodios, en comparación con el análisis que considera la incidencia global de la IT. Métodos: Se considera un ejemplo utilizando datos de una mutua en España durante 2011 (230.332 episodios, 752.906 trabajadores) y la incapacidad temporal por contingencia común (ITcc). Comparamos la incidencia de ITcc global y la segmentada por la duración de los episodios: corta (≤ 15 días), media (16-30 y 31-90) y larga (> 90 días). Los análisis se realizaron también según edad, como ejemplo de una de las múltiples variables que afectan a la incidencia de la IT. Resultados: La incidencia global de ITcc fue del 30,6%, mostrando una disminución con la edad (36,4% en <25 años frente a 29,3% en ≥55 años (RR = 1,24, IC del 95% = 1,22 - 1,27)). El análisis de la incidencia de ITcc segmentado por la duración de los episodios, permite obtener resultados más específicos: 1) la incidencia de corta duración es la más alta respecto al resto de segmentos (20,1% en la corta frente a 2,8% en larga duración (RR = 7,29, IC 95% = 7,19 - 7,40); 2) el exceso global observado en jóvenes se produce mayoritariamente por los episodios cortos (RR = 1,98, IC del 95% = 1,93-2,03, en <25 años frente a ≥55 años), y 3) la incidencia de larga duración cambia este patrón, siendo más frecuente en ≥55 años (5,2%) en relación a jóvenes (1,6%)(RR = 0,31, IC 95% = 0,29-0,34). Conclusiones: El análisis de la incidencia de IT segmentada por duración ofrece una aproximación más precisa que la obtenida del análisis global

Background: We describe the usefulness of performing an analysis of sickness absence (SA) incidence, segmented by the duration of episodes, in comparison with the more common analysis that considers the overall incidence of SA without segmentation. Methods: We used data from a health insurance company ("mutual") in Spain during 2011 (230,332 episodes, 752,906 workers) and non-work related SA as a case study. We compared the overall incidence of SA and incidence segmented by duration of episodes: short (≤ 15 days), medium (16-30 and 31-90 days) and long (> 90 days). The analyses were also performed by age, as an example of one of the multiple variables that affect SA incidence. Results: The overall incidence of SA was 30.6%, and declined steadily with increasing age. When SA incidence was analyzed by duration, we observed that: 1) the incidence of the episodes of short duration is the highest; 2) the overall excess observed in younger workers (<25 years) is driven mainly by short duration and 3) the pattern for long-term SA incidence was reversed, being more frequent among those ≥55 years of age relative to the youngest. Conclusions: Examining SA incidence by duration is more informative than relying on overall incidence of SA

The Boundaries of "Good Behavior" and Judicial Competence: Exploring Responsibilities and Authority Limitations of Cognitive Specialists in the Regulation of Incapacitated Judges.

Both law and medicine rely on self-regulation and codes of professionalism to ensure duties are performed in a competent, ethical manner. Unlike physicians, however, judges are lawyers themselves, so judicial oversight is also self-regulation. As previous literature has highlighted, the hesitation to report a cognitively-compromised judge has resulted in an "opensecret" amongst lawyers who face numerous conflicts of interest. Through a case study involving a senior judge with severe cognitive impairment, this article considers the unique ethical dilemmas that cognitive specialists may encounter when navigating duties to patient, society, and the medical profession, without clear legal guidance. Systemic self-regulatory inadequacies in the legal profession are addressed, as well as challenges that arise when trying to preserve the trust and dignity of an incapacitated patient who must fulfill special duties to society. Ultimately, because of their unique neurological expertise and impartial assessments, we submit that allowing cognitive specialists to submit their assessments to an internal judiciary board may act as an additional check and balance to ensure the fair and competent administration of justice.

Assessing the health consequences of fitness to practise investigations.

Cathryn Watters of campaign group NMCWatch:registrant care argues that health problems and high attrition rates are down to the harsh treatment faced by nurses undergoing NMC investigation. cathrynwatters@mail.com.

Complaints about chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists: a retrospective cohort study of health, performance, and conduct concerns.

Background: Recent media reports have highlighted the risks to patients that may occur when practitioners in the chiropractic, osteopathy and physiotherapy professions provide services in an unethical or unsafe manner. Yet research on complaints about chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists is limited. Our aim was to understand differences in the frequency and nature of formal complaints about practitioners in these professions in order to inform improvements in professional regulation and education. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analysed all formal complaints about all registered chiropractors, osteopaths, and physiotherapists in Australia lodged with health regulators between 2011 and 2016. Based on initial assessments by regulators, complaints were classified into 11 complaint issues across three domains: performance, professional conduct, and health. Differences in complaint rate were assessed using incidence rate ratios. A multivariate negative binomial regression model was used to identify predictors of complaints among practitioners in these professions. Results: Patients and their relatives were the most common source of complaints about chiropractors, osteopaths and physiotherapists. Concerns about professional conduct accounted for more than half of the complaints about practitioners in these three professions. Regulatory outcome of complaints differed by profession. Male practitioners, those who were older than 65 years, and those who practised in metropolitan areas were at higher risk of complaint. The overall rate of complaints was higher for chiropractors than osteopaths and physiotherapists (29 vs. 10 vs. 5 complaints per 1000 practice years respectively, p < 0.001). Among chiropractors, 1% of practitioners received more than one complaint - they accounted for 36% of the complaints within their profession. Conclusions: Our study demonstrates differences in the frequency of complaints by source, issue and outcome across the chiropractic, osteopathic and physiotherapy professions. Independent of profession, male sex and older age were significant risk factors for complaint in these professions. Chiropractors were at higher risk of being the subject of a complaint to their practitioner board compared with osteopaths and physiotherapists. These findings may assist regulatory boards, professional associations and universities in developing programs that avert patient dissatisfaction and harm and reduce the burden of complaints on practitioners.