The employee's right major index finger fails to clear the mid-palm on active flexion by 3/4". What is the percentage of permanent disability if the employee also has a 25% weighted grip loss?

• A. 2%
• B. 4%
• C. 5%
• D. 7%

Answer: (C)

To determine the percentage of permanent disability in this scenario, it's essential to understand how range of motion and grip strength loss factor into overall impairment. When evaluating a finger's ability to flex, a failure to clear the mid-palm on active flexion indicates a significant functional impairment. Specifically, a 3/4" deficit in flexion can be quantified to represent a certain degree of disability.

In addition to the failure in active flexion, the presence of a 25% weighted grip loss further compounds the employee's functional limitations. When assessing disabilities, these two factors—joint motion and grip strength—are often combined to arrive at a more accurate representation of overall impairment.

The 5% figure reflects a cumulative assessment, as it considers both the specific limitation in range of motion of the major index finger and the substantial grip loss. Experts in workers' compensation cases typically utilize established guidelines to assign a percentage based on these individualized assessments, which, in this situation, correctly leads to a 5% permanent disability rating.

This approach aligns well with standard practices in disability evaluations, where the evaluation of individual parts can contribute cumulatively to a greater overall impairment percentage. The knowledge of why these specific measurements factor into the disability rating helps solidify understanding of how