Burden and Risk Factors of Cervical Spine Conditions in Military Aircrew From 1997 to 2015: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

This article focuses on the incidence and risk factors for aeromedically disqualifying cervical spine conditions, including neck pain and degenerative cervical spine disorders, among U.S. military aviators from 1997 to 2015. Using data from the Defense Medical Epidemiological Database, the study found that military aviators had significantly higher rates of neck pain and degenerative cervical conditions compared to non-aviator controls, with no significant differences between aircraft platforms (fighter/bomber, other fixed wing, rotary wing). Female sex, increasing age (especially over 40 years), and service in the Army or Marine Corps were identified as the strongest risk factors. The study highlights a progressive increase in neck pain incidence over the study period and recommends targeted prevention programs and expanded treatment modalities to reduce medical attrition, improve aviator retention, and decrease Department of Defense costs.