Degenerative Changes of the Spine in Pilots of the RNLAF.
Abstract
The aim of this study was to examine whether F-16 pilots are at an increased risk of (cervical) spine degeneration. Retrospectively, all pilots of the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) that were systematically radiographed (at least twice) in the period between 1982 and 1994, were examined. In total 316 pilots were evaluated, 188 F-16 pilots (mean age 28.5 years at initial X-ray) and 128 pilots in the Control group (mean age 24.2 years at initial X-ray). The Control group consisted of 64 helicopter pilots, 63 NF-5 pilots and I F-27 pilot. None of this group of pilots had more than 150 hours flying experience with an F-16. Two radiologists, who were blinded as to whether the X-ray films were of F-16 pilots or Control group, examined these X-rays separately. In both groups, the time between the two X-rays was on average 6 years. In these years the Control group had a significantly higher mean number of flying hours compared to the F-16 group (resp. 922 versus 690 hrs). Though the inter-rater agreement of the X-rays was rather low, both radiologists found comparable statistical significant differences between the two groups, on several levels of the cervical spine. In the F-16 group, an increased osteophytic spurring was found at levels C4-C5 and C6-C7, and increased arthrosis deformans was found in the cervical spine. Further analysis of the data of a selection of the total group of pilots, whereby the difference in age between both groups was minimized, showed that the higher mean age of the F-16 pilots was possibly correlated with the increased degeneration in this group. No consistent relationship was found between spinal degeneration and initial radiological status. Also, it appeared that increasing levels of spinal degeneration were not related to increasing flight hours.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA354887
Entities
People
- I. J. Hendriksen
- M. Holewijn