La. Admin. Code tit. 40 § I-2007

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-2007 - Follow-Up Diagnostic Imaging and Testing Procedures

A. One diagnostic imaging or testing procedure may provide the same or distinctive information as does another procedure. Therefore, prudent choice of a single diagnostic procedure, a complement of procedures, or a sequence of procedures will optimize diagnostic accuracy, and maximize cost effectiveness (by avoiding redundancy), and minimize potential adverse effects to patients. All imaging and testing procedures have a degree of specificity and sensitivity for various diagnoses. No isolated imaging test can assure a correct diagnosis.

B. Clinical information obtained by history taking and physical examination should form the basis for selecting an imaging procedure and interpreting its results. Clinical updates must demonstrate the patient's current status to document the need for diagnostic testing or additional treatment. A brief history, changes in clinical findings such as orthopedic and neurological tests, and measurements of function with emphasis on the current, specific physical limitations will be important when seeking approval of future care. The emphasis of the medical treatment schedule are that the determination of the need to continue treatment is based on functional improvement, and that the patient's ability (current capacity) to return to work is needed to assist in disability management.

C. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), myelography, or computed axial tomography (CT) scanning following myelography, and other imaging and testing procedures may provide useful information for many spinal disorders. When a diagnostic procedure, in conjunction with clinical information, provides sufficient information to establish an accurate diagnosis, the second diagnostic procedure will become a redundant procedure. At the same time, a subsequent diagnostic procedure can be a complementary diagnostic procedure if the first or preceding procedures, in conjunction with clinical information, cannot provide an accurate diagnosis. Usually, preference of a procedure over others depends upon availability, a patient's tolerance, and/or the treating practitioner's familiarity with the procedure.

1. Imaging studies are generally accepted, well-established and widely used diagnostic procedures. In the absence of myelopathy, progressive neurological changes or incapacitating pain, imaging usually is not appropriate until conservative therapy has been tried and failed. Six to eight weeks of treatment are usually an adequate period of time before an imaging procedure is in order, but the clinician should use judgment in this regard. Early testing may be indicated for patients who demonstrate they cannot tolerate a trial of conservative therapy or who have a significant acute objective neurologic deficit that requires immediate imaging. When the findings of the diagnostic imaging and testing procedures are not consistent with the clinical examination, clinical findings should have preference. There is good evidence that in the over 40 asymptomatic population, the prevalence of disc degeneration is greater than 50 percent. Disc degeneration, seen as loss of signal intensity on MRI, may be due to age-related biochemical changes rather than structural deterioration, and may not have pathological significance. Disc bulging and posterior disc protrusion, while not rare, is more commonly symptomatic in the cervical spine than in the lumbar spine due to the smaller cervical spinal canal. Mild reduction in the cross-sectional area of the spinal cord may be seen without myelopathy in patients older than 40, therefore, clinical correlation is required. The studies below are listed in frequency of use, not importance.

a. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is the imaging study of choice for most abnormalities of the cervical spine. MRI is useful in suspected nerve root compression, in myelopathy to evaluate the spinal cord and/or masses, infections such as epidural abscesses or disc space infection, bone marrow involvement by metastatic disease, and/or suspected disc herniation or cord contusion following severe neck injury. MRI should be performed immediately if there is a question of infection or metastatic disease with cord compression. MRI is contraindicated in patients with certain implanted devices.

i. In general, the high field, conventional, MRI provides better resolution. A lower field scan may be indicated when a patient cannot fit into a high field scanner or is too claustrophobic despite sedation. Inadequate resolution on the first scan may require a second MRI using a different technique. All questions in this regard should be discussed with the MRI center and/or radiologist. Repeat MRI testing may be needed in cases that involve a change in exam or symptoms or for contemplated surgical intervention.

ii. Specialized MRI Scans

(a). MRI with Three-Dimensional Reconstruction. On rare occasions, MRI with three-dimensional reconstruction views may be used as a pre-surgical diagnostic procedure to obtain accurate information of characteristics, location, and spatial relationships among soft tissue and bony structures;

(b). Dynamic-Kinetic MRI of the Spine. Dynamic-kinetic MRI of the spine uses an MRI unit configured with a top-front open design which enables upright, weight-bearing patient positioning in a variety of postures not obtainable with the recumbent images derived from conventional, closed unit MRI systems. Imaging can be obtained in flexion, extension, and rotation of the spine, as well as in erect positioning. There is a theoretical advantage to imaging sequences obtained under more physiologic conditions than in the supine position. There is currently ongoing research to establish whether the theoretical advantages of positional and kinetic MRI result in improved sensitivity and specificity in detecting spine pathology. Currently it remains investigational, and is not recommended until the correlation with clinical syndromes is firmly established.

b. Computed axial tomography (CT) provides excellent visualization of bone and is used to further evaluate bony masses and suspected fractures not clearly identified on radiographic evaluation. It may sometimes be done as a complement to MRI scanning to better delineate bony osteophyte formation in the neural foramen. CT is usually utilized for suspected cervical spine fracture in a patient with negative plain films, or to further delineate a cervical fracture. CT scanning is also quite useful for congenital anomalies at the skull base and at the C1-2 levels. Plain CT scanning is poor for the C6-7 or C7-T1 levels because of shoulder artifact. Instrument-scatter reduction software provides better resolution when metallic artifact is of concern.

c. Post-Fusion Patients-monitoring of fusion can be done with initial x-rays within the first few weeks after surgery. Then, x-rays every three months up to a year. CT scan or X-rays can be done at one year to assess for fusion.

d. Myelography is the injection of radiopaque material into the spinal subarachnoid space, with x-rays then taken to define anatomy. It may be used as a diagnostic procedure to obtain accurate information of characteristics, location, and spatial relationships among soft tissue and bony structures. Myelography is an invasive procedure with complications including nausea, vomiting, headache, convulsion, arachnoiditis, CSF leakage, allergic reactions, bleeding, and infection. Therefore, myelography should only be considered when CT and MRI are unavailable, for morbidly obese patients or those who have undergone multiple operations, and when other tests prove nondiagnostic or fail to delineate pathology suspected by clinical presentation. The use of small needles and a less toxic, water-soluble, nonionic contrast is recommended.

e. CT myelogram provides more detailed information about relationships between neural elements and surrounding anatomy and is appropriate in patients with multiple prior operations or tumorous conditions.

f. Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT). A scanning technique which may be helpful to localize facet joint pathology and is useful in determining which patients are likely to have a response to facet injection. SPECT combines bone scans and CT scans in looking for facet joint pathology.

g. Bone scan (radioisotope bone scanning) is generally accepted, well-established and widely used. Bone scanning is more sensitive but less specific than MRI. 99MTechnetium diphosphonate uptake reflects osteoblastic activity and may be useful in diagnosing metastatic/primary bone tumors, stress fractures, osteomyelitis, and inflammatory lesions, but cannot distinguish between these entities. In the cervical spine, the usual indication is to evaluate for neoplastic conditions. Other indications include occult fracture or infection.

h. Other radioisotope scanning indium and gallium scans are generally accepted, well-established, and widely used procedures, usually to help diagnose lesions seen on other diagnostic imaging studies. 67Gallium citrate scans are used to localize tumor, infection, and abscesses. 111Indium-labeled leukocyte scanning is utilized for localizing infection or inflammation and is usually not used for the cervical spine.

i. Dynamic [digital] fluoroscopy dynamic [digital] fluoroscopy of the cervical spine measures the motion of intervertebral segments using a videofluoroscopy unit to capture images as the subject performs cervical flexion and extension, storing the anatomic motion of the spine in a computer. Dynamic Fluoroscopy may be used in state-designated trauma centers to evaluate the cervical spine. Its superiority over MRI has not been established. If performed, full visualization of the cervical spine (C1 - T1), in accordance with §2005.A.2 (Initial Diagnostic Procedures-Imaging), should be accomplished prior to the procedure. In the post-acute setting in some rare cases, Dynamic [Digital] Fluoroscopy may be used but is primarily an investigational tool and therefore, requires prior authorization in the postacute setting. No studies have yet demonstrated predictive value in terms of standard operative and non-operative therapeutic outcomes.

2. Other Tests. The following diagnostic procedures are listed in alphabetical order, not by importance.

a. Electrodiagnostic Testing

i. Electromyography (EMG), and Nerve Conduction Studies. (NCS). These are generally accepted, well-established and widely used diagnostic procedures. EMG and NCS, when performed and interpreted by a trained physician/electrophysiologist, may be useful for patients with suspected neural involvement whose symptoms are persistent or unresponsive to initial conservative treatments. They are used to differentiate peripheral neural deficits from radicular and spinal cord neural deficits and to rule out concomitant myopathy. However, F-Wave Latencies are not diagnostic for radiculopathy.

ii. In general, EMG and NCS are complementary to imaging procedures such as CT, MRI, and/or myelography or diagnostic injection procedures. Electrodiagnostic studies may provide useful, correlative neuropathophysiological information that would be otherwise unobtainable from the radiologic studies discussed above. Repeat testing may be necessary in cases where follow-up of an initial abnormal test is required to determine efficacy of a treatment or evaluate changes in a patient.

iii. Portable Automated Electrodiagnostic Device (also known as Surface EMG) this is not a substitute for conventional diagnostic testing in clinical decision-making and therefore, is not recommended.

iv. Somatosensory Evoked Potential (SSEP) is useful for the evaluation of myelopathy. It is not recommended to identify radiculopathy.

v. Current Perception Threshold Evaluation (CPT) may be useful as a screening tool, but its diagnostic efficacy in the evaluation of cervical spine pain has not been determined. Therefore, CPT is not recommended as a diagnostic tool

b. Injections - Diagnostic

i. Description Diagnostic cervical injections are generally accepted well-established procedures. These injections may be useful for localizing the source of pain, and may have added therapeutic value when combined with injection of therapeutic medication(s). Each diagnostic injection has inherent risks, and risk versus benefit should always be evaluated when considering injection therapy.

ii. Since these procedures are invasive, less invasive or non-invasive procedures should be considered first. Selection of patients, choice of procedure, and localization of the level for injection should be determined by clinical information indicating strong suspicion for pathologic condition(s) and the source of pain symptoms. Because injections are invasive with an inherent risk, the number of diagnostic procedures should be limited in any individual patient to those most likely to be primary pain generators. Patients should not receive all of the diagnostic blocks listed merely in an attempt to identify 100percent of the pain generators.

iii. The interpretation of the test results are primarily based on functional change, symptom report, and pain response (via a recognized pain scale before and at an appropriate time after the injection). The diagnostic significance of the test result should be evaluated in conjunction with clinical information and the results of other diagnostic procedures. Injections with local anesthetics of differing duration may be used to support a diagnosis. In some cases, injections at multiple levels may be required to accurately diagnose cervical conditions. Refer to Injections Therapeutic for information on specific injections.

(a). It is obligatory that sufficient data be accumulated by the examiner performing this procedure such that the diagnostic value of the procedure is evident to other reviewers. This entails, at a minimum, documentation of patient response immediately following the procedure with details of any symptoms with a response and the degree of response. Additionally, a log must be recorded as part of the medical records which documents response, if any, on an hourly basis for, at a minimum, the expected duration of local anesthetic phase of the procedure. Responses must be identified as to specific body part (e.g., neck, arm pain). The practitioner must identify the local anesthetic used and the expected duration of response for diagnostic purposes.

(b). Multiple injections provided at the same session without staging may seriously dilute the diagnostic value of these procedures. Practitioners must carefully weigh the diagnostic value of the procedure against the possible therapeutic value.

iv. Special Requirements for Diagnostic Injections. Since multi-planar fluoroscopy during procedures is required to document technique and needle placement, an experienced physician should perform the procedure. Permanent images are required to verify needle placement. The subspecialty disciplines of the physicians performing the injections may be varied, including, but not limited to: anesthesiology, radiology, surgery, or physiatry. The practitioner should have completed fellowship training in pain medicine with interventional training, or its equivalent. They must also be knowledgeable in radiation safety.

v. Complications. General complications of diagnostic injections may include transient neurapraxia, nerve injury, infection, headache, vasovagal effects, as well as epidural hematoma, permanent neurologic damage, dural perforation and CSF leakage, and spinal meningeal abscess. Severe complications are remote but can include spinal cord damage, quadriplegia, and/or death. Injections at a C2-C3 level frequently cause temporary neuritis with ataxia.

vi. Contraindications

(a). Absolute contraindications to diagnostic injections include:

(i). bacterial infection - systemic or localized to region of injection;

(ii). bleeding diatheses;

(iii). hematological conditions; and

(iv). possible pregnancy.

(b). Relative contraindications to diagnostic injections may include: allergy to contrast, poorly controlled diabetes mellitus, and hypertension.

(c). Drugs affecting coagulation may require restriction from use. Anti-platelet therapy and anti-coagulations should be addressed individually by a knowledgeable specialist. It is recommended to refer to the American Society of Regional Anesthesia for anticoagulation guidelines.

vii. Specific Diagnostic Injections. In general, relief should last for at least the duration of the local anesthetic used and should significantly relieve pain and result in functional improvement. Refer to "Injections-Therapeutic" for information on specific therapeutic injections.

(a). Medial Branch Facet Blocks and Sacral Lateral Branch Blocks If the block provides 80 percent or more pain reduction as measured by a numerical pain index scale within one hour of the medial branch blocks up to three levels per side, then rhizotomy of the medial branch nerves, up to four nerves per side, may be done without confirmation block. If the initial set of medial branch blocks provides less than 80 percent but at least 50 percent pain reduction as measured by a numerical pain index scale or documented functional improvement, the medial branch block should be repeated for confirmation before a rhizotomy is performed. If 50 percent or greater pain reduction is achieved as measured by the NPIS with two sets of medial branch blocks for facet joint pain, then rhizotomy may be performed.

(i). Frequency and maximum duration may be repeated once for comparative blocks. Limited to four levels.

(b). Atlanto-axial and atlanto-occipital injections are generally accepted for diagnosis and treatment but do not lend themselves to denervation techniques owing to variable neuroanatomy. Injection of this articulation is complicated by the proximity of the vertebral artery, which may be tortuous at the level of the C1 joint. Inadvertent injection of the vertebral artery may cause respiratory arrest, seizure, stroke, or permanent neurological sequelae. Only practitioners skilled in these injections should perform them:

(i). frequency and maximum duration: once per side.

(c). Transforaminal injections / Spinal selective nerve root blocks are generally accepted and useful in identifying spinal pathology. When performed for diagnosis, small amounts of local anesthetic should be used to determine the level of nerve root irritation. A positive diagnostic block should result in a positive diagnostic functional benefit and a 50 percent reduction in nerve-root generated pain appropriate for the anesthetic used as measured by accepted pain scales (such as a VAS):

(i). time to produce effect: less than 30 minutes for local anesthesia; corticosteroids up to 72 hours for most patients;

(ii). frequency and maximum duration: once per suspected level. limited to two levels.

(d). Zygapophyseal (Facet) Blocks. Facet blocks are generally accepted but should not be considered diagnostic blocks for the purposes of determining the need for a rhizotomy (radiofrequency medial branch neurotomy), nor should they be done with medial branch blocks. These blocks should not be considered a definitive diagnostic tool. They may be used diagnostically to direct functional rehabilitation programs. A positive diagnostic block should result in a positive diagnostic functional benefit and a 50 percent reduction in pain appropriate for the anesthetic used as measured by accepted pain scales (such as a VAS). They then may be repeated per the therapeutic guidelines when they are accompanied by a functional rehabilitation program. (Refer to Therapeutic Spinal Injections):

(i). time to produce effect: less than 30 minutes for local anesthesia; corticosteroids up to 72 hours for most patients;

(ii). frequency and maximum duration: once per suspected level, limited to two levels.

c. Personality/ Psychological/ Psychiatric/ Psychosocial Evaluation . These are generally accepted and well-established diagnostic procedures with selective use in the upper extremity population, but have more widespread use in subacute and chronic upper extremity populations. Diagnostic testing procedures may be useful for patients with symptoms of depression, delayed recovery, chronic pain, recurrent painful conditions, disability problems, and for preoperative evaluation. Psychological/psychosocial and measures have been shown to have predictive value for postoperative response, and therefore should be strongly considered for use pre-operatively when the surgeon has concerns about the relationship between symptoms and findings, or when the surgeon is aware of indications of psychological complication or risk factors for psychological complication (e.g. childhood psychological trauma). Psychological testing should provide differentiation between pre-existing conditions versus injury caused psychological conditions, including depression and posttraumatic stress disorder. Psychological testing should incorporate measures that have been shown, empirically, to identify comorbidities or risk factors that are linked to poor outcome or delayed recovery.

i. Formal psychological or psychosocial evaluation should be performed on patients not making expected progress within 6 to 12 weeks following injury and whose subjective symptoms do not correlate with objective signs and test results. In addition to the customary initial exam, the evaluation of the injured worker should specifically address the following areas:

(a). employment history;

(b). interpersonal relationships-both social and work;

(c). patient activities;

(d). current perception of the medical system;

(e). current perception/attitudes toward employer/job

(f). results of current treatment

(g). risk factors and psychological comorbidities that may influence outcome and that may require treatment

(h). childhood history, including history of childhood psychological trauma, abuse and family history of disability.

ii. Personality/ psychological/ psychosocial evaluations consist of two components, clinical interview and psychological testing. Results should help clinicians with a better understanding of the patient in a number of ways. Thus the evaluation result will determine the need for further psychosocial interventions; and in those cases, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM) diagnosis should be determined and documented. The evaluation should also include examination of both psychological comorbidities and psychological risk factors that are empirically associated with poor outcome and/or delayed recovery. An individual with a Ph.D., Psy.D, or psychiatric M.D./D.O. credentials should perform initial evaluations, which are generally completed within one to two hours. A professional fluent in the primary language of the patient is preferred. When such a provider is not available, services of a professional language interpreter should be provided.

iii. Frequency: one-time visit for the clinical interview. If psychometric testing is indicated as a part of the initial evaluation, time for such testing should not exceed an additional two hours of professional time.

d. Provocation Discography

i. Description. Discography is not recommended for use in the cervical spine.

ii. Indications. Discography may be indicated when a patient has a history of functionally limiting, unremitting cervical pain of greater than four months duration, with or without arm pain, which has been unresponsive to all conservative interventions. A patient who does not desire operative therapeutic intervention is not a candidate for an invasive non-therapeutic intervention, such as provocation discography.

iii. Discography may prove useful for the evaluation of the pre-surgical spine, discogenic pain at levels above or below a prior spinal fusion, annular tear, or internal disc disruption.

iv. Discography may show disc degeneration and annular disruption in the absence of cervical pain. Discography may also elicit concordant pain in patients with mild and functionally inconsequential neck pain. Because patients with mild neck pain should not be considered for invasive treatment, discography should not be performed on these patients. The presence of an annular tear does not necessarily identify the tear as a pain generator.

v. Discography is not useful in previously operated discs. Discography may prove useful in evaluating the number of cervical spine levels that might require fusion. CT Discography provides further detailed information about morphological abnormalities of the disc and possible lateral disc herniations.

vi. Preconditions for provocation discography include all of the following:

(a). A patient with functionally limiting, unremitting neck and/or arm pain of greater than four months duration in whom conservative treatment has been unsuccessful and in whom the specific diagnosis of the pain generator has not been made apparent on the basis of other noninvasive imaging studies (e.g., MRI, CT, plain films, etc.). It is recommended that discography be reserved for use in patients with equivocal MRI findings, especially at levels adjacent to clearly pathological levels. Discography may be more sensitive than MRI or CT in detecting radial annular tears. However, radial tears must always be correlated with clinical presentation.

(b). Psychosocial evaluation has been completed. There is some evidence that false positives and complaints of long-term pain arising from the procedure itself occur more frequently in patients with somatoform disorders. Therefore, discograms should not be performed on patients with non-anatomic symptoms consistent with somatoform disorders.

(c). Patients who are considered surgical candidates (e.g., symptoms are of sufficient magnitude and the patient has been informed of the possible surgical options that may be available based upon the results of discography). Discography should never be the sole indication for surgery.

(d). Informed consent regarding the risks and potential diagnostic benefits of discography has been obtained.

vii. Complications include, but are not limited to, discitis, nerve damage, retropharyngeal abscess, chemical meningitis, pain exacerbation, and anaphylaxis. Therefore, prior to consideration of discography, the patient should undergo other diagnostic modalities in an effort to define the etiology of the patient's complaint including psychological evaluation, myelography, CT and MRI.

viii. Contraindications include:

(a). active infection of any type or continuing antibiotic treatment for infection; and/or

(b). bleeding diathesis or pharmaceutical anticoagulation with warfarin, etc.; and/or

(c). significant spinal stenosis at the level being studied as visualized by MRI, myelography or CT scan; and/or

(d). presence of clinical myelopathy; and/or

(e). effacement of the cord, thecal sac or circumferential absence of epidural fat; and

(f). known allergic reactions.

ix. Special Considerations

(a). Discography should not be performed by the physician expected to perform the therapeutic procedure. The procedure should be carried out by an experienced individual who has received specialized training in the technique of provocation discography.

(b). Discography should be performed in a blinded format that avoids leading the patient with anticipated responses. The procedure should always include one or more disc levels thought to be normal or nonpainful in order to serve as an internal control. The patient should not know what level is being injected in order to avoidspurious results. Adjacent discs may be identified as pain generators in more than half of cases in which discogenic pain is identified at one level. Because surgery is likely to fail in multi-level discogenic pain, injection of as many levels as feasible can prevent many operative failures. Abnormal disc levels may be repeated to confirm concordance.

(c). Sterile technique must be utilized.

(d). Judicious use of light sedation during the procedure is acceptable, represents the most common practice nationally at the current time, and is recommended by most experts in the field. The patient must be awake and able to accurately report pain levels during the provocation portion of the procedure.

(e). CT or MRI should establish cervical spinal dimensions and ruled out spinal stenosis.

(f). Intradiscal injection of local anesthetic may be carried out after the provocation portion of the examination and the patient's response.

(g). It is recommended that a post-discogram CT be considered as it frequently provides additional useful information about disc morphology or other pathology.

x. Reporting of Discography. In addition to a narrative report, the discography report should contain a standardized classification of disc morphology and the pain response. All results should be clearly separated in the report from the narrative portion. Asymptomatic annular tears are common and the concordant pain response is an essential finding for a positive discogram.

xi. When discography is performed to identify the source of a patient's neck pain, both a concordant pain response and morphological abnormalities must be present at the pathological level prior to initiating any treatment directed at that level. The patient must be awake during the provocation phase of the procedure; therefore, sedative medication must be carefully titrated.

xii. Caution should be used when interpreting results from discography. One study using asymptomatic volunteers reported pain in the majority of discs injected, but no subjects reported pain exceeding 6/10 on a pain scale in a normal disc.

xiii. Reporting disc morphology as visualized by the post-injection CT scan (when available) should follow the Modified Dallas Discogram Scale where:

(a). Grade 0 = Normal Nucleus.

(b). Grade 1 = Annular tear confined to inner one-third of annulus fibrosis.

(c). Grade 2 = Annular tear extending to the middle third of the annulus fibrosis.

(d). Grade 3 = Annular tear extending to the outer one-third of the annulus fibrosis.

(e). Grade 4 = A grade 3 tear plus dissection within the outer annulus to involve more than 30 degrees of the disc circumference.

(f). Grade 5 = Full thickness tear with extra-annular leakage of contrast, either focal or diffuse.

xiv. Reporting of pain response should be consistent with the operational criteria of the International Spine Intervention Society Guidelines (ISIS). The report must include the level of concordance for neck and arm pain separately using a 10-point VAS, or similar quantitative assessment. It should be noted that the change in the VAS score before and after provocation is more important than the number reported.

xv. The diagnosis of discogenic pain is less likely when there are more discs with dissimilar pain and fewer with no pain. At least two discs with no pain on stimulation and one disc with concordant pain registering at least 7 on a 10-point VAS or equivalent should be present to qualify for a diagnosis of discogenic pain. The VAS score prior to the discogram should be taken into account when interpreting the VAS score reported by the patient during the discogram.

(a). Time parameters for provocation discography are as follows:

(i). frequency: one time only;

(ii). maximum: repeat discography is rarely indicated.

xvi. Thermography is an accepted and established procedure, but has no use as a diagnostic test for cervical pain. It may be used to diagnose regional pain disorders and in these cases, refer to the Complex Regional Pain Syndrome/Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Medical Treatment Guidelines.

3. Special tests are generally well-accepted tests and are performed as part of a skilled assessment of the patients' capacity to return-to-work, his/her strength capacities, and physical work demand classifications and tolerance. The procedures in this subsection are listed in alphabetical order, not by importance.

a. Computer-Enhanced Evaluations may include isotonic, isometric, isokinetic and/or isoinertial measurement of movement, range-of-motion, endurance, or strength. Values obtained can include degrees of motion, torque forces, pressures, or resistance. Indications include determining validity of effort, effectiveness of treatment and demonstrated motivation. These evaluations should not be used alone to determine return-to-work restrictions.

i. Frequency: One time for evaluation. Can monitor improvements in strength every three to four weeks up to a total of six evaluations.

b. Functional Capacity Evaluation (FCE): is a comprehensive or modified evaluation of the various aspects of function as they relate to the worker's ability to return to work. Areas such as endurance, lifting (dynamic and static), postural tolerance, specific range-of-motion, coordination and strength, worker habits, employability, as well as psychosocial, cognitive, and sensory perceptual aspects of competitive employment may be evaluated. Components of this evaluation may include: musculoskeletal screen; cardiovascular profile/aerobic capacity; coordination; lift/carrying analysis; job-specific activity tolerance; maximum voluntary effort; pain assessment/psychological screening; non-material and material handling activities cognitive; visual; and sensory perceptual factors.

i. When an FCE is being used to determine return to a specific jobsite, the provider is responsible for fully understanding the job duties. A jobsite evaluation is frequently necessary. FCEs cannot be used in isolation to determine work restrictions. The authorized treating physician must interpret the FCE in light of the individual patient's presentation and medical and personal perceptions. FCEs should not be used as the sole criteria to diagnose malingering.

ii. Full FCEs are sometimes not necessary. If Partial FCEs are performed, it is recognized that all parts of the FCE that are not performed are considered normal. In many cases, a work tolerance screening will identify the ability to perform the necessary job tasks.

iii. Frequency: can be used initially to determine baseline status. Additional evaluations can be performed to monitor and assess progress and aid in determining the endpoint for treatment.

c. Job site evaluation is a comprehensive analysis of the physical, mental and sensory components of a specific job. These components may include, but are not limited to; postural tolerance (static and dynamic); aerobic requirements; range-of-motion; torque/force; lifting/carrying; cognitive demands; social interactions; visual perceptual; sensation; coordination; environmental requirements of a job; repetitiveness; and essential job functions.

i. Job descriptions provided by the employer are helpful but should not be used as a substitute for direct observation. A jobsite evaluation may include observation and instruction of how work is done, what material changes (desk, chair) should be made, and determination of readiness to return-to-work.

ii. Requests for a jobsite evaluation should describe the expected goals for the evaluation. Goals may include, but are not limited to the following.

(a). to determine if there are potential contributing factors to the person's condition and/or for the physician to assess causality;

(b). to make recommendations for, and to assess the potential for ergonomic changes;

(c). to determine the essential demands of the job. To provide a detailed description of the physical and cognitive job requirements;

(d). to assist the patient in their return-to-work by educating them on how they may be able to do their job more safely and in a more bio-mechanically appropriate manner;

(e). to give detailed work/activity restrictions.

iii. Frequency: One time with additional visits as needed for follow-up per jobsite.

d. Vocational Assessment. The vocational assessment should provide valuable guidance in the determination of future rehabilitation program goals. It should clarify rehabilitation goals, which optimize both patient motivation and utilization of rehabilitation resources. If prognosis for return to former occupation is determined to be poor, except in the most extenuating circumstances, vocational assessment should be implemented within 3 to 12 months post-injury. Declaration of MMI should not be delayed solely due to lack of attainment of a vocational assessment:

i. frequency: one time with additional visits as needed for follow-up.

e. Work tolerance screening is a determination of an individual's tolerance for performing a specific job based on a job activity or task and may be used when a full Functional Capacity Evaluation is not indicated. It may include a test or procedure to specifically identify and quantify work-relevant cardiovascular, physical fitness and postural tolerance. It may also address ergonomic issues affecting the patient's return-to-work potential. Full job description should include a physical assessment of the job requirements:

i. frequency: one time for initial screen. May monitor improvements in strength every 3 to 4 weeks up to a total of six visits.

La. Admin. Code tit. 40, § I-2007

Promulgated by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers Compensation Administration, LR 37:1634 (June 2011), amended by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, Office of Workers Compensation, LR 40:1121 (June 2014), Amended LR 49517 (3/1/2023), Amended LR 50692 (5/1/2024).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 23:1203.1.