What is the rating for a 30 year old heavy furniture assembler with a soft tissue injury to the cervical spine causing a loss of range of motion resulting in an 8% impairment?

What is the rating for a 30 year old heavy furniture assembler with a soft tissue injury to the cervical spine causing a loss of range of motion resulting in an 8% impairment?

• A. 9%
• B. 11%
• C. 15%
• D. 19%

Answer: (B)

Impairment ratings in California SIP start with the measured loss of motion in a region (here, the cervical spine) and assign a regional impairment percentage based on the AMA Guides. That regional impairment is then converted to a whole-person impairment (WPI) using modifiers, including an age adjustment. In this case, the cervical spine has an 8% impairment due to loss of ROM from a soft-tissue injury. Because the patient is 30 years old, an age-related adjustment increases the WPI from that 8% baseline to the higher figure shown in the correct answer. The 11% rating reflects applying that modest age adjustment for a young worker with a ROM impairment, which is why it is the best answer. The other percentages would require larger adjustments that aren’t indicated by the given ROM loss and the patient’s age.

Impairment ratings in California SIP start with the measured loss of motion in a region (here, the cervical spine) and assign a regional impairment percentage based on the AMA Guides. That regional impairment is then converted to a whole-person impairment (WPI) using modifiers, including an age adjustment. In this case, the cervical spine has an 8% impairment due to loss of ROM from a soft-tissue injury. Because the patient is 30 years old, an age-related adjustment increases the WPI from that 8% baseline to the higher figure shown in the correct answer. The 11% rating reflects applying that modest age adjustment for a young worker with a ROM impairment, which is why it is the best answer. The other percentages would require larger adjustments that aren’t indicated by the given ROM loss and the patient’s age.