Impacto de la enfermedad de disco lumbar en el desempeño físico y operativo de los militares activos atendidos en el Hospital Naval Sur en el periodo 2023-2024.

Abstract

Introduction: Low back pain of disc origin is a pathology that affects a significant portion of adults, limiting the physical and operational performance of the Ecuadorian military. Objective: To analyze the impact of lumbar disc disease on the physical and operational performance of active military personnel treated at the Hospital Naval Sur during the 2023-2024 period. Methodology: The study was quantitative, descriptive, retrospective cross-sectional, with a sample of 1,457 clinical records from 2023-2024. Results: Disc diagnoses with radiculopathy reached 56% and nonspecific lumbago represented 21%; the age range of 35-44 years concentrated 48% of files, while those under 30 contributed 7%; the male population constituted 89%; after the injury, 35.1% showed excellent muscle strength and 37.8% good flexibility. However, 22.6% maintained adequate aerobic endurance; while prolonged pain persisted in 30.3% of cases, compared to 18% requiring surgery. The majority, 59.9%, remained without functional disability, although 16.9% had mild to moderate limitations and 5.4% severe restrictions. In the work setting, 38% required one to three days of leave, and 28.3% none; only 8.8% required more than thirty days, a pattern replicated in the rest certificates. Conclusions: The study corroborated the predominance of lumbar radicular pain, identified vulnerability in middle age, revealed uneven physical performance, described complications of persistent pain, and confirmed short-term absenteeism, validating the usefulness of clinical records.