ROTATOR CUFF SHOULDER SURGERIES AND WORKERS’ COMPENSATION: INDUSTRIAL VS. NON-INDUSTRIAL SURGERY RESULTS: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW  

In the US, annually, almost 2 million adults visit doctors for rotator cuff injuries. AAOS. A number of these individuals seeking this shoulder treatment on a work-related basis.  If conservative care does not resolve the issues, surgery is indicated.

With all types of surgeries, medical researchers like to compare the results of the Industrially provided versus those done on a non-industrial basis.  A study was done with respect to Rotator Cuff Surgeries.

This article will discuss the Rotator Cuff, Rotator Cuff Injuries, Causes of Rotator Cuff Injuries, Rotator Cuff Surgeries, and the Study’s Findings.

What is a Rotator Cuff?

The rotator cuff is a group of four muscles that come together as tendons to form a covering around the head of the humerus in the shoulder. The rotator cuff attaches the humerus to the shoulder blade and helps to lift and rotate your arm. AAOC

How Does a Rotator Cuff Get Injured?

 A rotator cuff injury can occur when one or more of the tendons are torn.  Tears can range from  partial to full-thickness(complete.) AAOC

What Are Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Injuries?

 The symptoms for rotator cuff tears can include pain at rest and at night, pain when lifting and lowering your arm, pain with specific movements, weakness when lifting or rotating your arm and cracking when moving your shoulder. AAOC

 What Is Rotator Cuff Surgery?

A rotator cuff surgery will  attempt to repair the torn tendons.   This can include re-attaching them to the bone. AAOC

What Work Activities Can Cause an Industrial Rotator Cuff Injury?

There are a number of factors that have been identified as causative towards industrial shoulder problems.   These factors that are considered as occupational risk factors for shoulder tendinopathy, impingement, and rotator cuff tears include: the combination of risk factors (eg force and repetition, force and posture); some evidence, highly repetitive work alone or in combination with other factors, some evidence, and awkward postures: strong evidence ( sustained shoulder postures with more than 60 degrees of flexion or abduction) AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Disease and Injury Causation, 2nd Edition,  P. 320

Thus, painters, carpenters, and others who do overhead work also have a greater chance for tears. They can also be caused by a traumatic injury such as a fall. AAOC

What are the Factors that Can Impact the Results of a Rotator Cuff Surgery?

There are a number of factors that can impact the recovery from a rotator cuff surgery.   This factors affecting postoperative outcomes include age, gender, and smoking status. Other factors that can impact the outcome include the number of surgeons, tear size, operation method, and surgical technique.  Kim KC, Lee WY, Shin HD, Han SC, Yeon KW. Do patients receiving workers’ compensation who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have worse outcomes than non-recipients? Retrospective case-control study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2018 May-Aug;26(3):2309499018802507. doi: 10.1177/2309499018802507. PMID: 30270747.

Also, factors most commonly believed to affect postoperative outcomes also include fatty degeneration and diabetes mellitus. Kim KC, Lee WY, Shin HD, Han SC, Yeon KW. Do patients receiving workers’ compensation who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have worse outcomes than non-recipients? Retrospective case-control study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2018 May-Aug;26(3):2309499018802507. doi: 10.1177/2309499018802507. PMID: 30270747.

What Were the Results of the Study?

 The study found thatAlthough workers’ compensation recipients who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair had worse outcomes before the end of WCB(Workers’ Compensation) benefits, the outcomes became similar after WCB(Workers’ Compensation) benefits ended” Kim KC, Lee WY, Shin HD, Han SC, Yeon KW. Do patients receiving workers’ compensation who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have worse outcomes than non-recipients? Retrospective case-control study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2018 May-Aug;26(3):2309499018802507. doi: 10.1177/2309499018802507. PMID: 30270747.

The data supported “the hypothesis that patients with workers’ compensation claims would have worse outcomes.” Kim KC, Lee WY, Shin HD, Han SC, Yeon KW. Do patients receiving workers’ compensation who undergo arthroscopic rotator cuff repair have worse outcomes than non-recipients? Retrospective case-control study. J Orthop Surg (Hong Kong). 2018 May-Aug;26(3):2309499018802507. doi: 10.1177/2309499018802507. PMID: 30270747.

 As an Attorney, Why Do You Believe That An Injured Worker Have Worse Results?

As an attorney, I will express my opinion as to what could be the cause of poor results for industrial rotator cuff surgeries.

First, industrial medicine treatment, versus non-industrial treatment, may have more delay and denials in getting the treatment and surgery authorized.  Additionally, there may delays and denials in getting treatment authorized.

Second,  workers’ compensation claims determine impairment and dysfunction as part of a disability award.  Thuys, an injured worker may be focused on recalling their dysfunction as opposed to a non-industrial surgery in which there is no reward for a poor result.

Third, if there was dissatisfaction with the workers’ compensation process, an injured worker may have lingering emotional unhappiness with respect to the result.

Fourth, if the case was settled with a Compromise and Release Buy-Out of future medical care, the Injured Worker may not  access to follow up medical treatment needed for their shoulder.

What If I Need Advice?

If you would like a free consultation regarding workers’ compensation, please contact the Law Offices of Edward J. Singer, a Professional Law Corporation. We have been helping people in Central and Southern California deal with their workers’ compensation cases for 27 years. Contact us today for more information.

 

 

 

 

 

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