Hesselbrock Roger, Heaton John
Aviat Space Environ Med. 2014 May;85(5):573-5. doi: 10.3357/asem.3867.2014.
Historically, neurologic conditions are a major cause for removing aviators from flying status. Early neuropsychiatry studies included psychiatric conditions along with neurologic disorders. Previously reported data specifically addressing neurologic conditions in aviators are limited. And there is little current neurology-specific data reported.
A retrospective review was done on patients with diagnoses evaluated by Neurology at the U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine Aeromedical Consultation Service (ACS) between 2000 and 2012 using ACS records and databases to identify cases. Patient demographics, major diagnoses with associated International Classification of Diseases (9th rev.) codes, and aeromedical disposition recommendations were abstracted into a separate database for analysis.
In total, 871 cases were identified. Patients were predominantly male (91%) with average age 34 and were predominantly pilots (69%). The top neurology-related diagnoses found in our series were headaches, head injuries, and radiculopathies. Of the cases evaluated, 570 aviators (65%) were recommended by ACS to return to flying status. Waiver authorities accepted 88% of ACS recommendations.
Current patterns in neurologic conditions in the selected population of cases evaluated by the ACS were presented. Of the neurologic diagnoses seen, a novel finding was the prominence of head injuries in our series not seen in previous studies. This may be due to more stringent aeromedical standards with advances in medical practice and underscores that this issue is not just about disability but affects aircrew operational readiness. Most cases of neurologic disease evaluated by the ACS were recommended for return to flying status.
从历史上看，神经系统疾病是导致飞行员停飞的主要原因。早期的神经精神病学研究包括精神疾病和神经系统疾病。此前报道的专门针对飞行员神经系统疾病的数据有限。目前几乎没有专门的神经病学数据报道。
对2000年至2012年在美国空军航空航天医学院航空医学咨询服务部（ACS）接受神经病学评估诊断的患者进行回顾性研究，使用ACS记录和数据库来确定病例。将患者人口统计学资料、主要诊断及相关的国际疾病分类（第9版）编码以及航空医学处置建议摘要到一个单独的数据库中进行分析。
共识别出871例病例。患者以男性为主（91%），平均年龄34岁，且以飞行员为主（69%）。在我们的系列研究中发现的与神经学相关的主要诊断是头痛、头部损伤和神经根病。在评估的病例中，570名飞行员（65%）被ACS建议恢复飞行状态。豁免当局接受了ACS 88%的建议。
展示了ACS评估的选定病例群体中当前神经系统疾病的模式。在所见到的神经学诊断中，一个新发现是我们系列研究中头部损伤的突出情况在以前的研究中未见。这可能是由于随着医学实践的进步，航空医学标准更加严格，并且强调这个问题不仅关乎残疾，还影响机组人员的作战准备状态。ACS评估的大多数神经系统疾病病例被建议恢复飞行状态。
