Investigation Report on Work-Related Lower Back Pain in Healthcare Personnel: A Case Study from the Occupational Medicine Department of a Tertiary Hospital in Southern Thailand
Keywords:
occupational disease, lumbar disc herniation, ergonomics, healthcare personnel, patient liftingAbstract
This case investigation was conducted by an occupational medicine physician from the Division of Occupational Medicine following the diagnosis of a healthcare worker in a surgical
intensive care unit with a herniated lumbar disc with nerve root compression-a condition potentially associated with repetitive physical exertion and improper working postures. The objective of this report is to conduct a case-specific investigation of lumbar disc herniation with nerve root compression by examining the relationship between occupational tasks and disease development, and to propose preventive strategies for musculoskeletal disorders in at-risk
populations. This descriptive study followed the ACOEM Practical Guidelines (2018) for investigating work-related illnesses. Data were collected through a comprehensive medical and occupational history, direct on-site observation of work activities, and ergonomic risk
assessments using standardized evaluation tools. The findings revealed that the healthcare worker’s tasks involved frequent forward bending, trunk twisting, and repeated manual patient handling-postures identified as high-risk for lower back injuries. Using a clinical prediction rule for diagnosing work-related low back pain in healthcare professionals, the subject scored 8 out of 13, indicating a moderate level of risk. Additionally, an exposure assessment based on the
Criteria for Determining the Work-Relatedness of nonspecific Low-Back Pain yielded a score of 14, corresponding to a 59% probability that the condition was work-related (above the 50% threshold for occupational attribution). Based on these findings, it is recommended that
mechanical assistive devices be used during patient handling, training in proper body mechanics be provided, and workplace environments be ergonomically adjusted to support safer working conditions. These interventions may be applicable to other healthcare workers performing
similar tasks.
Keywords: occupational disease, lumbar disc herniation, ergonomics, healthcare personnel, patient lifting
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