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Expenditures for nonspecific back injuries in the workplace
C F Federspiel1, D Guy, D Kane
1Department of Preventive Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tenn. 37232.
Journal of Occupational Medicine. : Official Publication of the Industrial Medical Association
|November 1, 1989
Summary
Workers' Compensation claims data from 1986 reveal that nonspecific back injuries accounted for 27% of cases and 40% of expenditures. This highlights the significant financial burden of these common workplace injuries.
Area of Science:
- Occupational health
- Health economics
- Biostatistics
Background:
- Workers' Compensation claims provide valuable data for understanding injury costs.
- Nonspecific back injuries represent a substantial portion of workplace injuries.
- Previous analyses have not fully detailed the economic impact of these injuries.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the financial expenditures associated with Tennessee Workers' Compensation claims closed in 1986.
- To specifically examine the costs related to nonspecific back injuries.
- To identify characteristics of high-cost claimants.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 29,421 Tennessee Workers' Compensation claims closed in 1986.
- Categorization of injuries, with a focus on back injuries and extremity injuries.
- Analysis of total paid claims, medical expenses, and time to return to work.
- Identification and analysis of subjects within the highest total expenditure decile.
Main Results:
- Nonspecific back injuries comprised 27% of claims and 40% of total expenditures ($160 million).
- Medical expenses constituted approximately 40% of all payments.
- The top 10% of claimants (2941 subjects) accounted for 57% of total dollar payments.
Conclusions:
- Nonspecific back injuries represent a significant financial burden within the Workers' Compensation system.
- The findings support a need to re-evaluate the clinical management of nonspecific back problems.
- Further research into cost-effective treatments for these injuries is warranted.