SOP Bulletin No. 65

4 — th Floor AMP Place, 10 Eagle St Brisbane  3 — rd Floor Blackburn House, 199 Grenfell St Adelaide

Intranet site: http://intranet/nat/comp/dp/Nop/dsu/dsudefault.htm

25 November 2002

THE FOLLOWING RMA SOPS ARE TO BE GAZETTED ON 27 November, 2002

IMPORTANT OPERATIONAL FEATURES

1.This is the most significant change in this gazettal of SOPs, and thus is being described first.

2.There has been a substantial change to the permanent ligamentous instability (PLI) factors in all these SOPs.  Previously the definition of PLI was based on clinical presentation.  The definition is now much stricter and requires radiological evidence.

3.To meet the definition in the SOPs, lateral X-Rays of the affected spine in flexion and extension are needed.  Degrees of anteroposterior motion of one vertebra over another, or angular motion between vertebrae, have to be demonstrated.  The requirements vary with the level of the spine.

4.Lateral views in flexion and extension are not routinely performed and, if needed,  would most likely have to be specially requested.   The request should ask the radiologist to report on the films in terms of the definition of PLI for the affected part(s) of the spine.

5.These are new SOPs.  Atrial flutter is an arrhythmia, not common, which is similar to atrial fibrillation, and has similar SOP factors.  The causal factors include specified cardiac and respiratory conditions.

6.The name of these SOPs has been changed.  They replace those for Dental Pulp Disease (including Pulpal Abscess).  Pulpal abscess remains covered by these SOPs; periodontitis is excluded.

7.There are two new factors.  The first is undergoing invasive dental or orthodontic surgery to the region of the affected tooth within the one year RH/ six months BOP immediately before the clinical onset.  This factor is for surgery, which would include, for example, filling a tooth cavity or a tooth extraction.

8.The second is undergoing a non-invasive dental or surgical procedure involving the affected tooth or periodontium supporting the affected tooth within the 14 days RH/ 7 days BOP immediately before the clinical onset.  Thus this factor is for a procedure, which is defined in the SOP, and would include most aspects of a dental examination e.g. scaling of teeth, fluoride application.

9.The inflammatory periodontal factor is now restricted to periodontitis of the periodontium supporting the affected tooth.

10.The trauma factor is now trauma to the region of the affected tooth within the one year RH/ six months BOP immediately before the clinical onset.

11.These two RH SOPs previously had the same definition for “organic solvents” i.e. oxygenated, aliphatic or aromatic solvents..

12.The Mesangial IGA Glomerulonephritis SOP now lists the organic solvents in the factors, rather than in a separate definition.  The solvents now listed are oxygenated organic solvents, aliphatic hydrocarbon solvents, or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents.

13.The Multiple Sclerosis SOP definition of organic solvents now includes those solvents, but also includes chlorinated organic solvents.  Thus it is now different from the list of organic solvents in Mesangial IGA Glomerulonephritis.

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