JCC Awards Cervical Fusion but Denies Pain-Management DME

In Paula Cox v. Okaloosa County Board of County Commissioners/Preferred Governmental Claims Solutions and PMA Insurance Company, OJCC Case No. 25-017448JW, the claimant sought authorization of an ACDF C5-C7 surgery and related surgical items after a June 14, 2025 workplace accident involving an elderly patient who fell into her.

Judge Jonathan E. Walker accepted the opinions of authorized orthopedic surgeon Dr. Dale Landry over the employer/carrier IME and found the requested cervical surgery reasonable and medically necessary. The order also granted the related Sierra Universal cervical collar, adjustable multi-post cervical collar, cervical bone stimulator, and internist/PCP medical-clearance evaluation because those items were tied to completing the surgical procedure.

The JCC denied the separate pain-management DME requests for IFC/NMES, OrthoCor Assist Device with MedNav, red light therapy with MedNav, and home ultrasound therapy. The order found Dr. Johnson's testimony unpersuasive on the reasonableness, medical necessity, and likely benefit of those devices, but awarded costs and attorney's fees for the benefits secured.

Source: Compensation Order