Evaluation criteria for the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine - how reliable are they?

The measurement of intervertebral osteochondrosis and classification of vertebral osteosclerosis showed adequate inter- and intra-observer reliability in the assessment of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine, whereas the classification of antero-lateral and posterior spondylosis and spondyloarthritis stage exhibited insufficient reliability. Hence, we recommend the revision of the DGUV recommendations for the evaluation of occupational diseases of the lumbar spine.