STUDY DESIGN: Cost data were gathered from computerized records of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for low back pain workers' compensation claims (N = 119,107) and for all claims (N = 731,087) initiated from 45 jurisdictions (states) during 1989. OBJECTIVE: This study provided more current, accurate, and additional information to estimate the costs and incidence associated with compensable low back pain compared with all compensation claims. METHODS: The first group of data included all compensable low back claims selected by specific codes: body part codes consisted of low back area, sacrum and coccyx, disc, and multiple trunk; injury codes consisted of strain, sprain, inflammation, rupture, hernia, fracture, and contusion. The second sample included all compensable claims, including both occupational injuries and illnesses. RESULTS: Low back pain cases represented 16% of all claims but 33% of all claims costs; 55.4% of the low back pain cases received medical payments only (i.e., did not receive indemnity payments for lost time). The mean cost per case for low back pain was $8321; median cost per case was $396. Medical costs represented 32.4% of the total costs; indemnity costs (i.e., payment for lost time) represented 65.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Since indemnity costs represent the greatest percentage of workers' compensation expenditure, the primary goal of low back pain management should be the prevention or reduction of prolonged disability.
STUDY DESIGN: Cost data were gathered from computerized records of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Company for low back pain workers' compensation claims (N = 119,107) and for all claims (N = 731,087) initiated from 45 jurisdictions (states) during 1989. OBJECTIVE: This study provided more current, accurate, and additional information to estimate the costs and incidence associated with compensable low back pain compared with all compensation claims. METHODS: The first group of data included all compensable low back claims selected by specific codes: body part codes consisted of low back area, sacrum and coccyx, disc, and multiple trunk; injury codes consisted of strain, sprain, inflammation, rupture, hernia, fracture, and contusion. The second sample included all compensable claims, including both occupational injuries and illnesses. RESULTS:Low back pain cases represented 16% of all claims but 33% of all claims costs; 55.4% of the low back pain cases received medical payments only (i.e., did not receive indemnity payments for lost time). The mean cost per case for low back pain was $8321; median cost per case was $396. Medical costs represented 32.4% of the total costs; indemnity costs (i.e., payment for lost time) represented 65.8%. CONCLUSIONS: Since indemnity costs represent the greatest percentage of workers' compensation expenditure, the primary goal of low back pain management should be the prevention or reduction of prolonged disability.
Authors: P Loisel; J Lemaire; S Poitras; M-J Durand; F Champagne; S Stock; B Diallo; C Tremblay Journal: Occup Environ Med Date: 2002-12 Impact factor: 4.402
Authors: Andreas Holtermann; Thomas Clausen; Birgit Aust; Ole Steen Mortensen; Lars L Andersen Journal: Int Arch Occup Environ Health Date: 2012-05-15 Impact factor: 3.015