NSW Workers Compensation: Whole Person Impairment (WPI) Assessment of the Lumbar Spine (Part 1)

Pursuant to the NSW Workers Compensation Guidelines for the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, evaluation of impairment of the spine is only to be done using diagnosis-related estimates (DREs). You may have heard the terms “you were assessed at DRE II”. So what does that actually mean and how many WPI percentage does that represent? 

There are a total of five (5) DRE categories for the assessment of the lumbar spine. To qualify for a particular category of DRE, you must satisfy certain criteria. Each category includes a range to account for the resolution, or continuation of symptoms and their impact of the ability to perform Activities of Daily Living (ADL).  

In assessing the injured worker to the correct DRE category, there are two approaches that the medical assessor may use. The first is based on reported symptoms, signs and appropriate diagnostic test results. The second is based on the presence of a fracture and/or dislocations.  

Some of the common symptoms reported by injured workers are pain, tenderness, restricted range of motion, unable to bend, difficulties with twisting, standing or sitting for prolonged periods of time. More severe lumbar spine injuries may include symptoms such as radiating pain and numbness into the lower limbs. From our experience of representing hundreds of injured workers, these are the most commonly reported symptoms of a lumbar spine injury.