[Selected diseases of the spine and spinal cord as a cause of work disability].

Diseases of the musculo-skeletal and peripheral nervous systems has become one of the most serious health problems of the working population in Poland. They also make one third of the total sickness absenteeism. The analysis of the magnitude of temporary work disability due to diseases of the spine and spinal cord as well as changes observed over five recent years are presented. The reference material is derived from the national database on sickness absenteeism, covering a 17% random sample of punched cards of certified work disability. The sickness absenteeism is expressed by the number of work disability days per 100 persons employed in a given year. In 1955 the rheumatoid spine diseases proved to be the cause of 194 days of work disability per 100 employed and made 9% of the total sickness absenteeism. In the last five years sickness absenteeism due to these diseases have doubled. In rheumatoid pathologies of the spine, 50% of absenteeism was caused by discopathy. Among diseases of the peripheral nervous system, 78% of absenteeism was caused by diseases of nerve roots and plexus. During the period under discussion a 126% increase in absenteeism caused by these pathologies was noted and it applied mostly to males. In 1995 rheumatoid diseases of the spine as well as diseases of nerve roots and mostly plexus were the cause of 375 days of work disability per 100 employed what made 18% of the total sickness absenteeism. Sickness absenteeism due to these disease has increased by 134% over the last five years. The highest level and dynamics are observed among coal miners.