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    Low Back Pain

    Cardinal Presentations / Presenting Problems, Orthopedic

    Last Reviewed on Oct 30, 2018
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    Context

    • It is estimated that 70-90% of adults will experience low back pain at some point in their lives. Among the patients presenting in primary care settings 5-10% will have serious underlying pathology (1). The challenge therefore is to rule out serious pathologies without over-investigating.

    Diagnostic Process

    • Majority of patients will have non-specific mechanical causes of which 90% will recover within 2-4 weeks, with appropriate symptom management (1). These patients only need a history and physical exam to rule out red flags.
    • Currently no formal decision rules exist to help to select those patients who do require imaging.
    • Historically red flags have been used, although robust evidence for this approach is lacking.
      • Red flags such as pain that persists despite appropriate treatment, anticoagulant use, decreased sensation, and nocturnal pain were found predictive of serious outcomes in one retrospective chart review (2), but overall the evidence is poor and the recommendation for the use of red flags is supported primarily by professional guidelines (3, 5).
      • Choosing Wisely Canada Campaign in association with Canadian Medical Association and Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians discourage low back spinal imaging in patients with non-traumatic low back pain who have no red flags/pathologic indicators (4).
    • Patients with neurological involvement suggesting sciatica, who have positive Straight Leg Raise (SLR) test, or who have worsening of pain with Valsalva maneuver are likely to have intervertebral disc protrusion.
      • Positive SLR constitutes pain radiating below the knee with ipsilateral hip flexion and/or made worse with dorsiflexion of the ankle while patient is supine. Crossed-leg SLR (reproduction of sciatica when the opposite leg is raised) is insensitive, but highly specific for disc protrusion (1).
    • Early imaging in patients WITHOUT red flags is discouraged because radiographic abnormalities are common among asymptomatic adults and bulging discs are frequently incidental findings even in symptomatic patients (1, 6). In addition, the natural history of symptomatic disc protrusion is improvement with only 10% remaining symptomatic at 6 weeks (1). Imaging subjects patients to unnecessary radiation, diagnostic tests, and interventions.
    • In patients less than 65 years old non-specific mechanical back pain (sprain/strain) is diagnosed in 70% of cases. Other mechanical causes such as fractures, spinal stenosis, congenital disease, disc pathologies, are found in 17%. One percent of the patients in this age-group will have systemic causes such as cancers, infections, and inflammatory conditions. And 2 % of the patients will have visceral disease such as abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), retroperitoneal hematoma, pelvic (i.e. PID, prostatitis), renal (i.e. nephrolithiasis, pyelonephritis), and GI causes (PUD, pancreatitis, cholecystitis).
    • In patients older than 65 years neoplasms, fractures, spinal stenosis, and AAA become more frequent. In this group of patients fractures may occur with minimal or no history of trauma.

    Common Pitfalls

    • Absence of fever does not rule out infection. Sensitivity of fever in the setting of infectious causes of back pain is low. Studies show sensitivity fever is present on only 27-50% of osteomyelitis and 83% of epidural abscess.
    • Failure to perform abdominal and respiratory exams may lead to missing other causes that may manifest as back pain. These include pneumonia, cholecystitis, pelvic pathology, pancreatitis, and most importantly AAA. All elderly patients presenting with back pain should undergo point of care ultrasound to rule out AAA.
    • Failure to perform a thorough neurological examination may lead to missing important signs of impending surgical emergencies. This is particularly true when patient presents with bilateral neurological symptoms and possible cauda equina. Only patients with neurological complaints and those with suspected cauda equina need a rectal exam.

    Quality Of Evidence?

    Justification

    Use of red flags on history and physical examination

    Low

    Avoiding early imaging in the patients with low back pain

    Moderate

    Related Information

    OTHER RELEVANT INFORMATION

    1. Best Case Ever 11: Cauda Equina Syndrome – www.emergencymedicinecases.com


    2. Clinically Organized Relevant Exam (CORE) Back Tool – CFPC


    3. Low Back Pain Exercises – Summit Medical Group


    4. Back Pain Exercises – Saskatchewan Ministry of Health


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