Disorder, Injury?
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Disorder, Injury?
For the purpose of answering a question on an aviation medical form, would a mostly healed injury be considered a "disorder" or "condition" if it does not at all impair the person as a pilot? In essence, can I truthfully answer "no" to a disorder, for something for which I was injured?
you had an injury
you can describe the injury - laceration, broken femur, head injury, loss of eye
you can describe the treatment - operation, suturing
you now still have an injury although it is resolving - maybe you can now walk but not run
In the future you will hopefully be healed
so I suspect you need to disclose the injury, the treatment and your current situation
you disclose medical history, and it doesnt matter whether it is a disorder or not
you can describe the injury - laceration, broken femur, head injury, loss of eye
you can describe the treatment - operation, suturing
you now still have an injury although it is resolving - maybe you can now walk but not run
In the future you will hopefully be healed
so I suspect you need to disclose the injury, the treatment and your current situation
you disclose medical history, and it doesnt matter whether it is a disorder or not
Ten months ago in early December 2017, as a result of very hard impact with a blunt object, I extensively tore a muscle within my left upper thigh without rupturing the muscle capsule. While the most common way to get an injury of this nature is rugby, I was grocery shopping.
Within an hour or so I was quite incapable of walking on it, yet I had no visible signs of damage whatsoever. It took several weeks of the worst pain I have experienced in my 55 years before someone decided the bruising finally occuring on the surface and my reported pain were worth investigating further. Ultrasound found a fluid filled tear about 7" long and 2" wide deep within my thigh, entirely contained within one muscle. And apart from my pain, all I had to show for it was an enormous surface bruise that extended down my lower leg!
Approximately 8 weeks after the injury I was able to drive a manual car again and by about 4 months I was able to walk, squat, climb, move, etc, normally.
Fast forward to today; the only remaining sign, which has stayed essentially constant past 4 months from injury, is that if I bend my left knee as far as possible I can feel a minor discomfort. I mentioned this to my GP and she said she wasn't the least bit surprised given the damage I had done to myself!
While we have no cause to do further imaging (presumably an ultrasound), it's pretty clear there would still be things to see, and likely will be for the rest of my life.
So, I had an injury. While I and my doctor consider it functionally healed, clearly there is residual physical evidence of the past injury. It does not affect my strength or mobility in any way.
I am a concrete example reasonably close to what "9 lives" has described; should I report this past injury on an aviation medical form?
Compare/contrast with the impressive scar on the bridge of my nose from a broken nose/faceplant into a parked car from a bicycle in 1975. Again, the physical evidence remains, in this case externally visible, the injury was serious, but the remaining impairment (if any) is trivial to non-existent.
Within an hour or so I was quite incapable of walking on it, yet I had no visible signs of damage whatsoever. It took several weeks of the worst pain I have experienced in my 55 years before someone decided the bruising finally occuring on the surface and my reported pain were worth investigating further. Ultrasound found a fluid filled tear about 7" long and 2" wide deep within my thigh, entirely contained within one muscle. And apart from my pain, all I had to show for it was an enormous surface bruise that extended down my lower leg!
Approximately 8 weeks after the injury I was able to drive a manual car again and by about 4 months I was able to walk, squat, climb, move, etc, normally.
Fast forward to today; the only remaining sign, which has stayed essentially constant past 4 months from injury, is that if I bend my left knee as far as possible I can feel a minor discomfort. I mentioned this to my GP and she said she wasn't the least bit surprised given the damage I had done to myself!
While we have no cause to do further imaging (presumably an ultrasound), it's pretty clear there would still be things to see, and likely will be for the rest of my life.
So, I had an injury. While I and my doctor consider it functionally healed, clearly there is residual physical evidence of the past injury. It does not affect my strength or mobility in any way.
I am a concrete example reasonably close to what "9 lives" has described; should I report this past injury on an aviation medical form?
Compare/contrast with the impressive scar on the bridge of my nose from a broken nose/faceplant into a parked car from a bicycle in 1975. Again, the physical evidence remains, in this case externally visible, the injury was serious, but the remaining impairment (if any) is trivial to non-existent.
Last edited by nonsense; 11th Oct 2018 at 12:57.
As always, you should carefully read the application form for your medical before you sign it. You saw a doctor about your thigh so you have to declare it. I doubt the AME will be interested - sorry to let you down, but you just tore a muscle and as long as you can operate the pedals nobody will care. Doctors love to tell patients it is the biggest / most difficult / most dangerous / most amazing whatever, but it was a torn muscle, even though I am sorry it was so painful and lasted so long 
As for 9lives, if he had an injury her needs to declare it but I suspect the same applies
As for 9lives, if he had an injury her needs to declare it but I suspect the same applies
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For the purpose of answering a question on an aviation medical form, would a mostly healed injury be considered a "disorder" or "condition" if it does not at all impair the person as a pilot? In essence, can I truthfully answer "no" to a disorder, for something for which I was injured?
"Mostly a healed condition is perhaps a little more concerning."
I should imagine, it's either healled, or not......in terms of functionality.
I broke my toe when I was 11, it still throbs now and again. In my terms of reference, I consider myself healled.
