ACC and back injuries: the relevance of pre-existing asymptomatic conditions revisited.

The application of the New Zealand Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC) legislation in the management of patients who sustain back injuries requires a detailed knowledge of the pathogenesis of tissue injury, and the natural history of ageing and related conditions, so that the application of the ACC Act(s) is appropriate. We have reviewed the new information published in the last decade, and updated the previous knowledge basis in these fields, so as to assist the interpretation of the Act(s).