Musculoskeletal: Arthritis

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arthritis
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Musculoskeletal: Arthritis
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I. Code of Federal Regulations

Legal References: 14 CFR 67.113(b)(c), 67.213(b)(c), 67.313(b)(c),

Legal Extract (Applies to All Classes):

  • (b) No other organic, functional, or structural disease, defect, or limitation that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the condition involved, finds -

    1. Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
    2. May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
  • (c) No medication or other treatment that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on the case history and appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the medication or other treatment involved, finds -
    1. Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; or
    2. May reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.

II. Examination Techniques

Standard examination procedures should be used to make a gross evaluation of the integrity of the applicant's musculoskeletal system. The Examiner should note:

  1. Pain - neuralgia, myalgia, paresthesia, and related circulatory and neurological findings
  2. Weakness - local or generalized; degree and amount of functional loss
  3. Paralysis - atrophy, contractures, and related dysfunctions
  4. Motion coordination, tremors, loss or restriction of joint motions, and performance degradation
  5. Also see exam techniques in Extremities, General Musculoskeletal and Spine sections
Grid

FAA Aerospace Medical Disposition Grid for
Item 42-43. MusculoSkeletal: Arthritis

see also: Extremities (Arms and Legs), Spine and Vertebral Column, and General Musculoskeletal sections

Collagen Disease

ARTHRITIC DISEASE/CONDITION

CLASS

EVALUATION DATA

DISPOSITION

Acute Polymyositis; Dermatomyositis; Lupus Erythematosus; or Periarteritis Nodosa

All

Submit a current status report to include functional status, frequency and severity of episodes, organ systems effected, medications with side effects and all pertinent medical reports

Requires FAA Decision

Other Arthritic Disease

Active disease of bones and joints

All

Submit a current status report to include functional status (degree of impairment as measured by strength, range of motion, pain), medications with side effects and all pertinent medical reports

Requires FAA Decision

FlightPhysical.com Note: The 2014 AME Guide does not independently discuss gout (Uric Acid Crystals), pseudogout (Calcium Pyrophosphate Crystals/Chondrocolcinosis) or any other crystal arthropathies as a unique type of arthritis, but the Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin (Vol 50, No 3) declares several allowable gout-specific medications for aviaotrs trying to control their serum uric acid and intraarticular crystal levels and to mitigate gouty arthritis symptoms:

  • Colcrys (colchicine)
  • Uloric (febuxostat)
  • Zyloprim (allopurinol)
  • Benemid (probenecid)
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