Sedentary Work Exerting up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work Exerting up to 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of the arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most the time, the job is rated Light Work.

Medium Work Exerting up to 50 (22.7 kg) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg) of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of forces constantly to move objects.

Heavy Work Exerting up to 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Very Heavy Work Exerting in excess of 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Job Classification

In most duration tables, five job classifications are displayed. These job classifications are based on the amount of physical effort required to perform the work. The classifications correspond to the Strength Factor classifications described in the United States Department of Labor's Dictionary of Occupational Titles. The following definitions are quoted directly from that publication.

Sedentary Work Exerting up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force occasionally and/or a negligible amount of force frequently or constantly to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects, including the human body. Sedentary work involves sitting most of the time, but may involve walking or standing for brief periods of time. Jobs are sedentary if walking and standing are required only occasionally and other sedentary criteria are met.

Light Work Exerting up to 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force occasionally and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of force frequently, and/or negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. Physical demand requirements are in excess of those for Sedentary Work. Light Work usually requires walking or standing to a significant degree. However, if the use of the arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most the time, the job is rated Light Work.

Medium Work Exerting up to 50 (22.7 kg) pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 25 pounds (11.3 kg) of force frequently, and/or up to 10 pounds (4.5 kg) of forces constantly to move objects.

Heavy Work Exerting up to 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or up to 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Very Heavy Work Exerting in excess of 100 pounds (45.4 kg) of force occasionally, and/or in excess of 50 pounds (22.7 kg) of force frequently, and/or in excess of 20 pounds (9.1 kg) of force constantly to move objects.

Wound Infection, Postoperative


Related Terms

  • Nosocomial Infection

Differential Diagnosis

Specialists

  • General Surgeon
  • Hand Surgeon
  • Infectious Disease Internist
  • Orthopedic Surgeon

Comorbid Conditions

  • Cancer
  • Decreased blood volume
  • Diabetes
  • Hypothermia
  • Immune system disorders
  • Malnutrition
  • Other infection
  • Vascular disease

Factors Influencing Duration

The type and extent of the infection, its treatment, the presence of complications, and the individual's response to treatment will influence the length of disability. In addition, those of advanced age or those who smoke have prolonged wound healing that might influence the length of disability.

Medical Codes

ICD-9-CM:
998.51 - Infected Postoperative Seroma
998.59 - Other Postoperative Infection; Intra-abdominal Postoperative; Stitch Postoperative; Subphrenic Postoperative; Wound Postoperative; Septicemia Postoperative
998.6 - Persistent Postoperative Fistula

Failure to Recover

If an individual fails to recover within the expected maximum duration period, the reader may wish to consider the following questions to better understand the specifics of an individual's medical case.

Regarding diagnosis:

  • Has individual had a recent surgical procedure?
  • Does individual have conditions that may place him/her at higher risk for a postoperative wound infection, such as abdominal surgery, lengthy surgery, or immune system disorders?
  • Does individual have symptoms characteristic of a postoperative wound infection, such as unusual incisional pain, redness, swelling, drainage, or fever and chills?
  • Was an elevated white blood cell count noted?
  • Was wound culture positive?
  • If the diagnosis was unclear, were other conditions such as suture abscess, hematoma, seroma, granuloma, or other infection considered in the differential diagnosis?

Regarding treatment:

  • Have appropriate antibiotics been administered (i.e., antibiotics that are specific for the bacteria that was cultured from the wound)?
  • Was the wound opened and allowed to drain?
  • Has individual completed the full course of antibiotics?
  • Does individual show signs of persistent infection, such as redness or drainage around the wound? If so, was the wound recultured to determine if the bacteria are resistant to the current antibiotic therapy?

Regarding prognosis:

  • Did individual receive prompt treatment?
  • Did adequate time elapse for complete recovery?
  • Are there signs of systemic infection such as fever, rapid heart rate, chills, and fatigue? If so, were they addressed in the treatment plan?
  • Does individual have associated complications, such as wound dehiscence, incisional hernias, abscesses, tissue destruction, or systemic infection, that may affect recovery and outcome? Were complications addressed promptly and appropriately in the treatment plan?
  • Were appropriate specialists consulted (infectious disease specialist, intensivist)?
  • Does individual have any underlying conditions (diabetes, vascular disease, cancer, malnutrition, immune suppression, or other areas of infection) that may affect ability to recover? Were these conditions addressed in the treatment plan?

Source: Medical Disability Advisor


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