Military Occupational Specialty Codes: Utility in Predicting Inhalation Exposures in Post-9/11 Deployers.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine military occupational specialty (MOS) codes to identify those at risk from inhalation exposures during Southwest Asia deployment.

Methods: Exposure intensity to diesel exhaust, sandstorms, burn pit smoke, combat dust, and occupational vapors/dusts/gases/fumes (VDGF) were scored for all Army/Marine MOS codes by an expert panel. Based on MOS code, panel-rated exposure scores were compared with questionnaire data from military personnel with postdeployment respiratory illnesses.

Worsening low back pain.

Our patient attributed his back pain to a recent fall, but his lab work and a sagittal CT pointed us in another direction.