Why does spine surgery increase impairment?

In the world of compensation and impairment ratings there is a bible known as the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. The “Guides” aren’t perfect, but I have one major criticism: that the impairment rating for spinal conditions is linked to having surgery, such that surgery (that is undertaken in order to reduce impairment) increases the impairment rating. I will take you through the twisted logic, but it makes as much sense as awarding no impairment for someone crippled with knee arthritis, and then awarding a high impairment rating after they have had their knee replaced and their function restored. This paradox is helping surgeons and lawyers, but does little for the patients except to increase their payout.

Craniectomy – a no-brainer?

Raised pressure in and around the brain is associated with (notice I didn’t say “causes”) bad outcomes in patients with traumatic brain injury. Management of such patients centres around reducing this pressure, either by managing their breathing and giving drugs, or by surgical decompression of the brain, usually achieved by removing a piece of skull (craniectomy). Craniectomy is common practice, and it has been around for over 100 years. This recent comparative trial showed that craniectomy was successful in reducing the pressure around the brain, but caused (notice how I didn’t say “was associated with”) more harm than good. A case of “the operation was a success, but the patient died”.