ALBERTA PERMANENT CLINICAL IMPAIRMENT GUIDE - Workers ...

THE LOWER EXTREMITIESTHE LOWER EXTREMITIESI. IntroductionA. For purposes of impairment rating, the lower extremities include theanatomical structures that comprise the hips, upper legs, knees, lower legsand feet.B. The ratings obtained by following the described procedure are whole personratings. They are final impairment ratings reflecting the extent of physicalfunctional deficit as a result of the specific lower extremity injury or injuries.C. The total impairment assessed for the lower extremity cannot exceed thevalue of the lower extremity i.e. 65% for disarticulation at the hip.II.Rating ProcedureA. When rating both lower extremities, rate one completely before starting to ratethe other.* Either the left or the right one may be rated first; lower limbdominance is not a factor in impairment rating.B. For each limb calculate the overall impairment including any pre-existingimpairment and subtract the pre-existing impairment from the overallimpairment to obtain the compensable impairment.C. When the impairment is partial loss of full movement, the formula specified inRule No. B. 2. (Restricted Joint Movement, Page 28) should be applied incalculating impairment. For other non-scheduled awards, see the applicablerules.D. Total the ratings for both limbs.* A schedule of lower extremity ratings is provided on pages 30 and 31. Thereare no charts.Page 27COPYRIGHT 2006 All Rights Reserved October 1, 2006