Degenerative Disc Disease in the Active Military Special Forces and the Financial Benefits of Early Detection Using a Quadruple Blind-Study

Abstract

We completed a research study concerning degenerative disc disease (DDD) to prove the superiority of the Quadruple Blind-Study in accurately identifying the illness in patients against the Double Blind-Study. The protocol involved 160 male and female asymptotic patients with an average age of 37, living a normal lifestyle. The patients had no prior DDD diagnoses but only intermittent back pain. Our clinical findings showed 12% of patients positive for DDD. Using this same criterion, it was estimated that a Double Blind-Study would only make a 3% positive identification. This particular study gave our method a 300% greater efficacy in identifying DDD in the tested patients against the Double Blind-Study. Greater emphasis should be placed in utilizing this method in the United States Military. This would enable prompt identification of at risk soldiers, thus minimizing lost duty time and the loss of invaluable field and combat experience.