ALBERTA PERMANENT CLINICAL IMPAIRMENT GUIDE - Workers ...

SKINSKINI. IntroductionA. The skin has many functions. It provides protection, enables perception(touch, pressure, pain and temperature) and assists in excretion, fluidbalance, temperature regulation and immunological defence. It is alsoextremely important psychologically and cosmetically.B. While specific diagnosis of the type of skin disorder is useful, skin impairmentis rated by the functional deficit created by lesions. Thus, clinical impairmentdue to a skin lesion considers both functional impairment and disfigurement.C. Skin lesions must be described by the surface area involved, shape, location,color, thickness, and effectiveness as skin. Color photographs of the involvedareas are invaluable.II.Rating ProcedureA. Functional impairment1. Decide which functional unit of skin is involved, using the followingclassification:a) Face and anterior neckb) Scalp and trunkc) Upper extremity (both, excluding hands)d) Lower extremity (both, excluding feet)e) Feetf) Right handg) Left hand2. If the face or anterior neck is functionally impaired, rate the impairmentusing Table I (page 49).3. If any of the remaining regions (b to g) are functionally impaired, rateeach separately using Table II (page 50).Page 47COPYRIGHT 2006 All Rights Reserved October 1, 2006