[Attempts at hierarchic classification of radio-morphologic changes of the lumbar spine in screening examinations]

An objective evaluation of condition of the spine in candidates for study and employment in continuous and excessive loading of the lumbar spine is difficult because of the lack of suitable criteria classifying pathomorphological changes found on X-ray examination. In order to fill this gap, the authors analyzed 85 X-ray pictures of the lumbar spine of candidates within the preliminary screening examinations. A 5-points-scale considering the clinical value of individual deviations in lumbar spine structure was accepted. On the basis of that research the groups of the examined were determined: able to physical work (0-3 points), admitted on condition (4 points) and disqualified (5 points and over). On the basis of this model 57.6 per cent of the candidates were disqualified and only 25.9 per cent were admitted to study and work with no conditions.