QUESTION: A 51-year-old male, who sustained a partial tear of the proximal right adductor longus tendon at work, was evaluated. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan obtained 3 days post-injury showed a tear of approximately 10% of the tendon with surrounding edema. He was treated with platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. No repeat MRI was obtained when the patient was deemed at maximum medical improvement (MMI) one-year post-injury. Using the fifth edition of the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (AMA Guides), which is applicable in the patient's state, his treating physician, despite the patient having normal hip adduction strength, provided a rating based on strength loss, using half the impairment that would be assigned for 4/5 hip adduction weakness and pain. During a subsequent independent medical evaluation, the patient complained of pain and weakness with prolonged...
