CRMA™ Reports: Unveiling the Impact on Preexisting Injuries

Introduction

In the intricate world of medical diagnostics and treatment, understanding and identifying the nuances of preexisting conditions is paramount. This is particularly true when dealing with injuries sustained in accidents, where distinguishing between active and dormant conditions can significantly influence treatment approaches and legal outcomes. The excessive motion test, also known as CRMA™ (Computerized Radiographic Mensuration Analysis) report, emerges as a critical tool in this context, offering detailed insights into spinal injuries and the effects of preexisting conditions.

Preexisting Conditions: Active vs. Dormant

Preexisting conditions can be classified into two main categories: active and dormant. An active preexisting condition is one where the patient is already receiving treatment. For example, if an individual has recently broken a finger and then injures the same finger in a car accident, the condition is considered active. In such cases, any new injury can aggravate the preexisting condition, potentially worsening the situation.

Conversely, a dormant preexisting condition is not under current treatment and can only weaken an area and make it more susceptible to injury. Both states are particularly precarious because they can make individuals more susceptible to severe injuries from accidents, even relatively minor accidents. A classic example is a person with underlying osteoporosis who sustains significant fractures from a minor fall, and a healthy individual without osteoporosis would walk away from injury-free.  This example highlights the importance of considering dormant or active pre-existing conditions in clinical assessments and legal evaluations.

Understanding Aggravation and Exacerbation

Aggravation refers to a new injury that compounds an existing active pre-existing condition found at the same motion unit, intensifying the patient's condition. On the other hand, an exacerbation is a temporary flare-up of symptoms to the active pre-existing condition without a new injury, often resolving with minimal intervention. Distinguishing between these scenarios is crucial for appropriate treatment and legal documentation, especially in cases involving compensation claims.

The Role of CRMA in Evaluating Preexisting Conditions

CRMA™ reports play a vital role in the accurate assessment of spinal injuries, particularly in the context of preexisting conditions. This diagnostic technique offers a precise evaluation of spinal motion, identifying abnormal movement patterns that are consistent with the injury to the non-disc spinal support ligaments. By doing so, CRMA™ reports can help differentiate between injuries related to a recent accident and preexisting conditions, providing valuable information for developing effective treatment plans and supporting legal claims.

For instance, consider a patient with moderate to severe degenerative joint disease at the C5-6 and C6-&=7 spinal levels. These joints are very unhealthy, but they are degenerated and less mobile.  These joints will deflect the shear and compressive forces of an auto collision to the healthy joints that show no degenerate change, such as C2-3, C3-4, and C4-5.  The C2-3 motion unit shows 4.3 mm or translation, which is a Grade III sprain, causes instability due to the damage to the non-disc ligaments that meets the qualification for a spinal fusion surgery under insurance company surgical guidelines, comes with a high impairment, under contact sports activity guideline meets the qualification to restrict contact sports activity, is a severe facet injury and it is a very bad cervical injury connected with an MTBI evaluation, ie., it can cause almost every symptom of the MTBI, and there is NO PRE=EXISTING CONDITION IN THE MOTION UNIT, so it is a completely new injury.  This is how CRMA helps in this process. 

Implications for Treatment and Legal Proceedings

Understanding the implications of preexisting conditions, as well as being able to differentiate through them with a CRMA™ report, is invaluable for healthcare providers and legal professionals alike. In the realm of personal injury cases, accurately identifying and documenting injuries related to an accident versus those stemming from preexisting conditions can significantly improve everyone's abilities to more accurately determine any benefits that the patient may be entitled to, without the need for adversarial conditions.  For healthcare providers, this knowledge enables the formulation of more effective treatment strategies, tailored to the specific needs and conditions of the patient.

Furthermore, the ability to clearly document and communicate findings from a CRMA™ report can elevate a healthcare provider's role in injury cases, potentially leading to better patient outcomes and less benefits controversies. It underscores the importance of comprehensive training in understanding spinal injuries and the application of advanced diagnostic tools like a CRMA™ report .

Conclusion

Excessive motion testing, or a CRMA™ report, offers a critical lens through which primary care providers can better understand and treat spinal injuries in the context of preexisting conditions. By accurately distinguishing between active and dormant conditions, as well as aggravations and exacerbations, clinicians can tailor their treatment approaches more effectively. Moreover, in the legal landscape of personal injury claims, CRMA™ reports provide a scientific basis for differentiating new injuries from preexisting conditions, thereby assisting in simplifying the benefits resolution process. As we continue to advance our understanding and application of such diagnostic tools, the potential for improved patient care and simplifying the benefits resolution process becomes evident.