Investigation of Self-Reported Musculoskeletal Injuries on Post-Deployment Health Assessment Forms for Aeromedical...

Area of Science:

• Military medicine
• Occupational health
• Aerospace medicine

Background:

• Musculoskeletal injuries (MSIs) pose significant risks to military personnel, impacting readiness and incurring medical costs.
• Understanding MSI prevalence within specialized military roles, such as aeromedical evacuation (AE), is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the prevalence of self-reported MSIs among deployed AE personnel (flight nurses and AE technicians) using Post-Deployment Health Assessment (PDHA) data.
• To investigate the correlation between self-reported MSIs on PDHAs and subsequent medical diagnoses in AE populations.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of PDHA forms completed by flight nurses and AE technicians between 2008-2010.
• Comparison of MSI prevalence in AE personnel with a control group of deployed ground-based counterparts.

Main Results:

• MSI prevalence was reported by 18% of AE nurses and 19% of AE technicians.
• These rates were comparable to ground-based counterparts (23% non-AE nurses, 25% non-AE technicians).
• A diagnosis matching the reported MSI was found in 35% of AE nurses and 44% of AE technicians with self-reported MSIs.

Conclusions:

• MSI prevalence in deployed AE personnel is significant and similar to ground troops.
• Identifying MSI prevalence in the AE environment is essential for developing effective preventative and ergonomic solutions.
• Minimizing MSIs in AE populations can enhance individual well-being and improve overall military mission success.