Merits and shortcomings of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th edition. A physiatric perspective.

We review in this article the most recent edition of the American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides) from a physiatric perspective. Important general changes within the framework from the 4th to the 5th edition are highlighted. Those sections of the AMA Guides most often consulted by physiatrists are examined in critical detail, including sections dealing with the spine, upper and lower extremities, neurologic impairments, and impairments due to pain.