Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 7, 2025
Minimally Invasive Treatment for Thoracolumbar Burst Fracture Using Sagittal Alignment Screws and A Trauma Reduction Device
Published on: November 8, 2024
Musculoskeletal Spine Injuries in U.S. Active Duty Service Members: Prevalence/Incidence, Healthcare Utilization, and
Xiaoning Yuan1, Emma Stewart1,2, Courtney Colahan3
1Musculoskeletal Injury Rehabilitation Research for Operational Readiness (MIRROR), Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA.
Background:
Low back pain and musculoskeletal injuries (MSKIs) of the Spine are the most common reason for U.S. active duty service members (ADSMs) to seek medical care. The purposes of this descriptive study were to report the prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and health care costs attributable to Spine (thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and pelvic) MSKIs across the four major branches of service from Fiscal Years (FY) 2016 to 2021.
Materials And Methods:
This was a retrospective, longitudinal population study, including ADSMs from the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, and Navy. Prevalence and incidence rates for Spine MSKIs, associated health care utilization, and costs were obtained by querying electronic health records (EHRs) from military treatment facilities, private sector care (PC) claims, and theater medical data from the Military Health System Data Repository from October 1, 2015 to September 30, 2021 (FY16-21). Utilization associated with Spine MSKIs in both the direct care (DC) and PC settings was classified into mutually exclusive outpatient encounter categories and acute inpatient stays. PC costs related to Spine MSKIs were captured per year.
Results:
In FY21, 269,301 ADSMs sought care for Spine MSKI, representing 18.0% of the U.S. Armed Forces. The prevalence of Spine MSKIs ranged from 17.4 to 19.5% during FY16-21, with the highest annual prevalence among the Army (20.7-22.9%) and Air Force (19.0-22.6%). Across the study period, Soldiers had the highest share (47.8-50.4%) of DC outpatient encounters for Spine MSKI (primary or secondary diagnosis). The Air Force relied most heavily on PC for outpatient Spine MSKI care across the study period, where in FY21 Airmen accounted for 36.5% of the outpatient PC Spine MSKI encounters totaling $21,140,935 in PC costs. In FY21, total PC costs for Spine MSKI totaled $99,317,832.
Conclusions:
This retrospective, descriptive study establishes prevalence/incidence, health care utilization, and PC costs for Spine MSKIs across the Services from FY16-21 and highlights the burden of Spine MSKIs among the U.S. Armed Forces, with costs amounting to over $99 million in PC reliance in FY21 alone.
More Related Videos
11:28A Coupled Experiment-finite Element Modeling Methodology for Assessing High Strain Rate Mechanical Response of Soft Biomaterials
Published on: May 18, 2015
06:28Biomechanical Changes Related to Low Back Pain: An Innovative Tool for Movement Pattern Assessment and Treatment Evaluation in Rehabilitation
Published on: December 13, 2024
Related Concept Videos
01:28Disorders of the Skeletal Muscle
Musculoskeletal disorders
Musculoskeletal disorders involve injuries and conditions affecting the skeletal muscles and associated connective tissues. These disorders can arise from acute biomechanical stresses or chronic overuse and can occur across different age groups. Common injuries include sprains, fractures, and muscular strains, often resulting from...
01:09Changes in the Appendicular Skeleton with Age
Initially, the limb buds consist of a core of mesenchyme covered by a layer of ectoderm. The ectoderm at the end of the limb bud thickens to form a narrow crest called the apical ectodermal ridge. This ridge stimulates the underlying...
01:27Fractures: Bone Repair
Minor fractures with no bone displacement are treated by immobilizing the fractured bone using a cast or splint. However, in the case of fractures with displaced bones, the broken bones are repositioned before immobilization to ensure successful healing without deformation and loss of function. The realignment of fractured bone ends is performed through a process called reduction. If the...