Table 1 The most frequent musculoskeletal diagnoses in sick leave >8 weeks in Norway in 1997, according to The International Classification of Primary Health Care (ICPC): N and percent of musculoskeletal cases, and percent obtaining a disability pension (DP)

L84

Back syndrome without radiation

3579

13.6

17.2

5165

13.6

19.1

L86

Back syndrome with radiation

3979

15.1

18.4

3607

9.5

23.0

L83

Neck syndrome

2005

7.6

25.0

4340

11.4

23.9

L92

Shoulder syndrom

2179

8.3

19.6

3781

10.0

22.7

L99

Musculoskeletal disorder NUD

913

3.5

19.2

4780

12.6

12.4

L93

Epicondylitis/tendinits forearm

1699

6.5

14.7

2652

7.0

20.2

L02

Back symptoms

1042

4.0

17.5

1857

4.9

17.2

L88

Rheumatoid arthritis

777

3.0

39.4

1220

3.2

50.3

L76

Other fractures

1009

3.8

13.3

613

1.6

17.8

L73

Fracture ankle/leg

803

3.1

4.7

630

1.7

11.4

L18

Widespread muscular pain

144

0.5

28.5

957

2.5

49.0

L01

Neck symptoms

330

1.3

21.8

676

1.8

23.1

L96

Acute inner injury of knee

632

2.4

8.2

333

0.9

14.1

L72

Fracture forearm

349

1.3

6.9

536

1.4

15.7

L08

Shoulder symptoms

332

1.3

19.3

406

1.1

19.2

L89

Osteoarthrosis of the hip

250

1.0

41.6

406

1.1

48.3