Femoral neck stress fracture presenting as low back pain

Femoral neck stress fractures in young adults are uncommon and usually not considered in the differential diagnosis of low back pain. However, if the patient has groin and anterior thigh pain, it is important to thoroughly examine the hips. To illustrate this point, we present a patient with a femoral neck stress fracture who was misdiagnosed as having mechanical back pain.     

Espondiloptose em atleta

The adolescent athletes are at greater risk of low back pain and structural spine injuries. Spondylolysis is responsible for the majority of back pain cases in young athletes, rarely occurring in adults. We report a case of a 13‐year‐old judo female athlete, who came to our service with 5 months of progressive low back pain during training which was initially attributed to mechanical causes, without any further investigation by imaging methods. At admission, the patient had lumbar deformity, antalgic posture and bilaterally positive unipodalic lumbar hyperextension maneuver. After a research which showed spondyloptosis, the patient underwent surgery. In this article, we discuss, based on this case report, the diagnostic approach to low back pain in young athletes, since the complaint of chronic back pain can be a marker of a structural lesion that may be permanent and bring irreversible functional loss.     

Intertester reliability of a low back pain classification system

STUDY DESIGN: This prospective study of intertester reliability examined pairs of therapists' ability to agree independently on a patient's low back pain diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: To determine the intertester reliability of a low back pain classification system among experienced and novice clinicians. BACKGROUND: Many of the disparate categorization schemes for patients with low back pain are purely nominal, assigning designations based on the presumptive source of the problem without providing any practical guide for rehabilitation. A useful classification scheme reliably groups patients into treatment-directing categories. METHODS: The study included 204 patients with low back pain referred to 10 clinics across Canada. Paired physiotherapists performed separate physical examinations on each patient. Both examiners then completed a simple ballot choosing one of five pain patterns. RESULTS: Agreement on patient classification by independent examiners was 78.9% (kappa = 0.61). CONCLUSION: This clinically relevant and clearly defined pain pattern system uses key elements of the history and examination to classify patients with low back pain. The pattern provides a framework for initiating active rehabilitation strategy. Using this approach, clinicians agreed on the categorization of 78.9% of mechanical low back pain cases.     

Compliance with clinical practice guidelines in family physicians managing worker''s compensation board patients with acute lower back pain

BACKGROUND CONTEXT: Family physician compliance with acute lower back pain clinical practice guidelines remains uncertain. PURPOSE: To determine the degree of guideline compliance of family physicians managing patients with workers' compensation claims and acute mechanical lower back pain. STUDY DESIGN: Observational study. PATIENT SAMPLE: One hundred thirty-nine family physicians in British Columbia. OUTCOME MEASURES: Compliance with guideline recommendations for history, examination procedures, diagnostic testing and treatments. METHODS: Physician workers' compensation board patient reports for acute lower back pain without leg symptoms and not greater than 2 to 3 weeks duration were scored for guideline adherence up until 12 weeks after onset. RESULTS: Physicians demonstrated a high degree of compliance with the guideline-recommended history, examination procedures and medications, but low compliance with recommended imaging and many treatment recommendations. CONCLUSIONS: Recently published clinical practice guidelines regarding the management of patients with acute mechanical lower back pain have not been fully implemented into the patterns of practice of the family physicians.     

Partial lumbosacral transitional vertebra resection for contralateral facetogenic pain

STUDY DESIGN: Case report of surgically treated mechanical low back pain from the facet joint contralateral to a unilateral anomalous lumbosacral articulation (Bertolotti's syndrome). OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical presentation, diagnostic evaluation, and management of facet-related low back pain in a 17-year-old cheerleader and its successful surgical treatment with resection of a contralateral anomalous articulation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Lumbosacral transitional vertebrae are common in the general population. Bertolotti's syndrome is mechanical low back pain associated with these transitional segments. Little is known about the pathophysiology and mechanics of these vertebral segments and their propensity to be pain generators. Treatment of this syndrome is controversial, and surgical intervention has been infrequently reported. METHOD: A retrospective chart analysis and radiographic review were performed. RESULTS: Repeated fluoroscopically guided injections implicated a symptomatic L6-S1 facet joint contralateral to an anomalous lumbosacral articulation. Eventually, a successful surgical outcome was achieved with resection of the anomalous articulation. CONCLUSION: Clinicians should consider the possibility that mechanical low back pain may occur from a facet contralateral to a unilateral anomalous lumbosacral articulation, even in a young patient. Although reports of surgical treatment of Bertolotti's syndrome are infrequent, resection of the anomalous articulation provided excellent results in this patient, presumably because of reduced stresses on the symptomatic facet.     

Hip fracture presenting as mechanical low back pain subsequent to a fall: a case study

This case chronicles the assessment and clinical management of a 54 year old female patient who presented with post traumatic lower back, hip and lower extremity pain, initially attributed to mechanical low back pain but ultimately diagnosed as a hip fracture. This case study illustrates a number of important issues germane to chiropractic care. These are; the importance of using different assessment procedures, combined with clinical experience, in order to differentiate between those patients with clinical conditions that are amenable to conservative care from those that are not; the usefulness of a tuning fork test as a clinical tool in differentiating between hip fracture and mechanical spinal pain syndromes and; the impact of falls and fractures among older Canadian patients.     

Lumbar disc surgery: results of the Prospective Lumbar Discectomy Study of the Joint Section on Disorders of the Spine and Peripheral Nerves of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons

The Prospective Lumbar Discectomy Study enrolled 740 patients in a multiphysician, multicenter, consecutive patient protocol to evaluate the indications and efficacy of lumbar discectomy. Five hundred and thirteen patients could be evaluated at 3 months after surgery. Stepwise logistic regression showed that the factors of fraction of pain referred to the back, work-related injury, absence of back pain on straight leg-raise examination, correspondence of leg pain to typical radicular patterns, leg pain on straight leg-raise examination, and reflex asymmetry were independently predictive of good outcome from surgery. Univariate analysis of the case with different numbers of predictive factors present showed that use of the operating microscope, sensory deficit, central disc bulge, and free disc fragment were correlated with outcome only in subgroups. An analysis of unsatisfactory outcomes showed two patterns: one of failure as a result of mechanical back pain and one of failure as a result of radiculopathy. Factors predictive of outcome did not influence the type of failure. In a stepwise logistic regression analysis, facetectomy and preoperative sensory deficit were associated with increased likelihood of mechanical back pain failure, while preoperative motor deficit was associated with an increased likelihood of radicular failure. The results support several intuitively derived and commonly believed principles of lumbar disc surgery.     

Reliability and validity of Punjabi version of Oswestry Disability Index in patients with mechanical low back pain

ObjectiveOswestry disability Index(ODI) is the commonest patient reported outcome for assessment of disability due to low back pain. Its application to non-English speaking Punjabi population is limited as a validated and cross culturally adapted Punjabi version of ODI is not available. The purpose of the study was to analyse the psychometric properties of Punjabi version of Oswestry disability index (ODI-P) in patients with mechanical low back pain.Materials and methodsThe translation and cross-cultural adaptation of Punjabi version of ODI was done according to well recommended guidelines. The prefinal version was tested on a set of 15 patients and suitable modifications were made. The final version was administered to 113 patients with mechanical low back pain of more than two weeks duration. Psychometric properties comprising of internal consistency, test retest reliability, floor and ceiling effect, construct validity and factorial structure of the questionnaire were determined.ResultsODI-P showed excellent internal consistency (Chronbach alpha of ODI-P is 0.72), test retest reliability (ICC 0.891) and construct validity (Spearman correlation coefficient with VAS 0.424). Factor analysis proved the questionnaire to be having a 1-factor structure with a total variance of 48.61%.ConclusionsODI (P) is a reliable and valid instrument for measurement of disability related to mechanical low back pain in Punjabi population. It can be used both in research and clinical care settings in future.     

A clinical prediction rule for classifying patients with low back pain who demonstrate short-term improvement with mechanical lumbar traction

The objective of the study was to develop a clinical prediction rule for identifying patients with low back pain, who improved with mechanical lumbar traction. A prospective, cohort study was conducted in a physiotherapy clinic at a local hospital. Patients with low back pain, referred to physiotherapy were included in the study. The intervention was a standardized mechanical lumbar traction program, which comprised three sessions provided within 9 days. Patient demographic information, standard physical examination, numeric pain scale, fear-avoidance beliefs questionnaire and Oswestry low back pain disability index (pre- and post-intervention) were recorded. A total of 129 patients participated in the study and 25 had positive response to the mechanical lumbar traction. A clinical prediction rule with four variables (non-involvement of manual work, low level fear-avoidance beliefs, no neurological deficit and age above 30 years) was identified. The presence of all four variables (positive likelihood ratio = 9.36) increased the probability of response rate with mechanical lumbar traction from 19.4 to 69.2%. It appears that patients with low back pain who were likely to respond to mechanical lumbar traction may be identified.     

Prevention of disabling back injuries in nurses by the use of mechanical patient lift systems

Occupational back pain in nurses (OBPN) constitutes a major source of morbidity in the health care environment. According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), occupational back injury is the second leading occupational injury in the United States. Among health care personnel, nurses have the highest rate of back pain, with an annual prevalence of 40-50% and a lifetime prevalence of 35-80%. The American Nursing Association believes that manual patient handling is unsafe and is directly responsible for musculoskeletal disorders encountered in nurses. It has been well documented that patient handling can be done safely with the use of assistive equipment and devices that eliminate these hazards to nurses that invite serious back injuries. The benefit of assistive patient handling equipment is characterized by the simultaneous reduction of the risk of musculoskeletal injury to the nursing staff and improvement in the quality of care for patient populations. To understand the cause of disabling injuries in health care workers, several factors must be considered, including the following: (1) anatomy/physiology of the back, (2) risk factors, (3) medical legal implications, and (4) prevention. Among nurses, back, neck, and shoulder injuries are commonly noted as the most prevalent and debilitating. While mostly associated with dependant patient care, the risk for musculoskeletal injury secondary to manual patient handling crosses all specialty areas of nursing. The skeletal defects of an abnormal back make the back more susceptible to occupational injury, even under normal stress conditions. Workers compensation guidelines for occupational back injury differ in public and private health care sectors from state to state. Nursing personnel should be reminded that the development of back pain following occupational activities in the hospital should be reported immediately to the Occupational Health Department. A nurse's failure to report OBPN immediately has resulted in numerous denials of claims for rehabilitation and compensation that nurses deserve. Experts believe that training in proper body mechanics does not prevent back injury. Consequently, focus has been placed on other innovative injury prevention programs, including the use of engineering controls as well as the "lift team" method. Ergonomics involves the use of mechanical devices (e.g., walking belt and mechanical hoist) to aid in patient lifting and transferring tasks. Guldmann Inc. has devised ceiling lift systems and slings during the past 20 years. They have successfully completed thousands of installations worldwide, covering a wide range of challenging conditions and complex environments. The Guldmann ceiling-mounted hoist system consists of a wide range of lifting units, rail components, and a complete assortment of lifting slings and accessories. Its sling is made of polyester, which is characterized by its strength and elasticity. It retains its shape and is dirt repellent and easy to maintain. The Guldmann network has one of the largest and indisputably most experienced group of certified installers in the United States. The "lift team" method was devised to remove nursing personnel from the everyday task of moving patients. This type of intervention assumes that lifting is a specialized skill to be performed only by expert professional patient movers who have been thoroughly trained in the latest lifting device techniques.     

腰痛的诊疗进展

背景 腰痛,又称下背痛,是引起功能障碍的主要原因.目的 在众多腰痛的诊断和治疗方法中,提供基于循征医学的腰痛诊断和治疗进展.内容 临床医生应该首先把腰痛患者归类为机械性、神经性或继发性腰痛,进而给予相应的检查和治疗.趋向 机械性腰痛不应该常规使用影像学检查.腰痛患者的一线药物治疗是对乙酰氨基酚或非类固醇类抗炎药.腰痛的...     

Foot posture,leg length discrepancy and low back pain – Their relationship and clinical management using foot orthoses – An overview

Mechanical low back pain (LBP) is a very common, expensive, and significant health issue in the western world. Functional musculoskeletal conditions are widely thought to cause mechanical low back pain. The role of foot posture and leg length discrepancy in contributing to abnormal biomechanics of the lumbopelvic region and low back pain is not sufficiently investigated. This critical review examines the evidence for the association between foot function, particularly pronation, and mechanical LBP. It also explores the evidence for a role for foot orthoses in the treatment of this condition. There is a body of evidence to support the notion that foot posture, particularly hyperpronation, is associated with mechanical low back pain. Mechanisms that have been put forward to account for this finding are based on either mechanical postural changes or alterations in muscular activity in the lumbar and pelvic muscles. More research is needed to explore and quantify the effects of foot orthoses on chronic low back pain, especially their effects on lumbopelvic muscle function and posture. The clinical implications of this work are significant since foot orthoses represent a simple and potentially effective therapeutic measure for a clinical condition of high personal and social burden.     

Intervertebral discs from spinal nondeformity and deformity patients have different mechanical and matrix properties

Background contextIt is well-established that disc mechanical properties degrade with degeneration. However, prior studies utilized cadaveric tissues from donors with undefined back pain history. Disc degeneration may present with pain at the affected motion segment, or it may be present in the absence of back pain. The mechanical properties and matrix quantity of discs removed and diagnosed for degeneration with patient chronic pain may be distinct from those with other diagnoses, such as spinal deformity.PurposeTo test the hypothesis that discs from nondeformity segments have inferior mechanical properties than deformity discs owing to differences in matrix quality.Study design/settingIn vitro study comparing the mechanical and matrix properties of discs from surgery patients with spinal nondeformity and deformity.MethodsWe analyzed nucleus and annulus samples (8–11 specimens per group) from surgical discectomy patients as part of a fusion or disc replacement procedure. Tissues were divided into two cohorts: nondeformity and deformity. Dynamic indentation tests were used to determine energy dissipation, indentation modulus, and viscoelasticity. Tissue hydration at a physiologic pressure was assessed by equilibrium dialysis. Proteoglycan, collagen, and collagen cross-link content were quantified. Matrix structure was assessed by histology.ResultsWe observed that energy dissipation was significantly higher in the nondeformity nucleus than in the deformity nucleus. Equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that annulus swelling was significantly lower in the nondeformity group. Consistent with this, we observed that the nondeformity annulus had lower proteoglycan and higher collagen contents.ConclusionsOur data suggest that discs from nondeformity discs have subtle differences in mechanical properties compared with deformity discs. These differences were partially explained by matrix biochemical composition for the annulus, but not for the nucleus. The results of this study suggest that compromised matrix quality and diminished mechanical properties are features that potentially accompany discs of patients undergoing segmental fusion or disc replacement for disc degeneration and chronic back pain. These features have previously been implicated in pain via instability or reduced motion segment stiffness.     

Abdominal aortic aneurysms: case report

A 71-year-old male presented to a chiropractic clinic with subacute low back pain. While the pain appeared to be mechanical in nature, radiographic evaluation revealed an abdominal aortic aneurysm, which required the patient to have vascular surgery. This case report illustrates the importance of the history and physical examination in addition to a thorough knowledge of the features of abdominal aortic aneurysms. The application of spinal manipulative therapy in patients with (AAA) is also discussed.     

Acute pancreatitis presenting as back pain: a case report

A man with acute back pain presented to a chiropractic clinic with clinical symptoms and signs suggesting abdominal disease rather than mechanical spine pain. He was referred to a local hospital emergency where a diagnosis of acute pancreatitis secondary to chronic cholecystitis was made. The diagnostic images are compared to normal studies. The characteristic clinical examination findings found with back pain due to acute pancreatitis are compared to those typically seen with mechanical spine pain.     

Devastating injuries in healthcare workers: description of the crisis and legislative solution to the epidemic of back injury from patient lifting

The purpose of this report is to describe a crisis in healthcare, disabling back injuries in US healthcare workers. In addition, outlined is the proven solution of safe, mechanized, patient lifting, which has been shown to prevent these injuries. A "Safe Patient Handling--No Manual Lift" policy must be immediately instituted throughout this country. Such a policy is essential to halt hazardous manual patient lifting, which promotes needless disability and loss of healthcare workers, pain and risk of severe injury to patients, and tremendous waste of financial resources to employers and workers' compensation insurance carriers. Healthcare workers consistently rank among top occupations with disabling back injuries, primarily from manually lifting patients. Back injury may be the single largest contributor to the nursing shortage. Reported injuries to certified nursing assistants are three to four times that of registered nurses. A national healthcare policy for "Safe Patient Handling--No Manual Lift" is urgently needed to address this crisis. Body mechanics training is ineffective in prevention of back injury with patient lifting. Mandated use of mechanical patient lift equipment has proven to prevent most back injury to nursing personnel and reduce pain and injury to patients associated with manual lifting. With the national epidemic of morbid obesity in our country, innovative devices are available for use in emergency medical systems and hospitals for patient lifting and transfer without injury to hospital personnel. The US healthcare industry has not voluntarily taken measures necessary to reduce patient handling injury by use of mechanical lift devices. US healthcare workers who suffer disabling work-related back injuries are limited to the fixed, and often inadequate, relief which they may obtain from workers' compensation. Under workers' compensation law, healthcare workers injured lifting patients may not sue their employer for not providing mechanical lift equipment. Discarding healthcare workers disabled by preventable back injuries is an abuse which legislators must remedy. In addition, Medicare reimbursement policies must also be updated to allow the disabled community to purchase electrically operated overhead ceiling lifts. The US lags far behind countries with legislated manual handling regulations and "No Lifting" nursing policies. England and Australia have had "No Lifting" nursing policies in place since 1996 and 1998, respectively. The National Occupational Research Agenda (NORA) recognized a model in 2003 for reduction of back injuries to nursing staff in US healthcare facilities. Also in 2003, the American Nurses Association called for elimination of manual patient handling because it is unsafe and causes musculoskeletal injuries to nurses. The first state legislation for safe patient handling passed both houses in California but was vetoed by the Governor in September 2004. California and other states are preparing to (re)introduce legislation in January 2005. A national, industry-specific policy is essential to quell the outflow of nursing personnel to disability from manual patient lifting.     

Acute onset-low back pain and hip pain secondary to metastatic prostate cancer: a case report

Prostatic cancer is the second most common cancer among North American men and the second leading cause of cancer deaths. It may be incidental or contribute to the cause of mechanical back pain. With such high mortality associated with metastasis, early detection is essential for appropriate medical management. Chiropractors are often consulted for back pain of mechanical origin and are in a position to detect conditions in which serious organic pathology may contribute to, or mimic benign musculoskeletal back pain. Patient history and clinical examination coupled with imaging may greatly increase the index of suspicion of prostatic involvement. Outlined is a case where imaging and examination confirmed a diagnosis of organic disease in an individual who opted for chiropractic care for his back pain, but for whom immediate medical management was essential.     

Pancreatic cancer and chronic thoracic back pain: a case report

A male with persistent thoracic spine pain and clinical symptoms suggesting a more grave condition than mechanical back pain is presented. The patient had previously been attended to by a medical doctor and a chiropractor. The symptom picture and the ineffectiveness of previously administered chiropractic care suggests a medical referral with further investigation. The importance of history taking is emphasized. An accurate diagnosis and administration of the appropriate treatment is paramount because the prognosis of detected pancreatic cancer is poor.     

Electromyographic reflex responses to mechanical force, manually assisted spinal manipulative therapy.

STUDY DESIGN: Surface electromyographic reflex responses associated with mechanical force, manually assisted (MFMA) spinal manipulative therapy were analyzed in this prospective clinical investigation of 20 consecutive patients with low back pain. OBJECTIVES: To characterize and determine the magnitude of electromyographic reflex responses in human paraspinal muscles during high loading rate mechanical force, manually assisted spinal manipulative therapy of the thoracolumbar spine and sacroiliac joints. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Spinal manipulative therapy has been investigated for its effectiveness in the treatment of patients with low back pain, but its physiologic mechanisms are not well understood. Noteworthy is the fact that spinal manipulative therapy has been demonstrated to produce consistent reflex responses in the back musculature; however, no study has examined the extent of reflex responses in patients with low back pain. METHODS: Twenty patients (10 male and 10 female, mean age 43.0 years) underwent standard physical examination on presentation to an outpatient chiropractic clinic. After repeated isometric trunk extension strength tests, short duration (<5 msec), localized posteroanterior manipulative thrusts were delivered to the sacroiliac joints, and L5, L4, L2, T12, and T8 spinous processes and transverse processes. Surface, linear-enveloped electromyographic (sEMG) recordings were obtained from electrodes located bilaterally over the L5 and L3 erector spinae musculature. Force-time and sEMG time histories were recorded simultaneously to quantify the association between spinal manipulative therapy mechanical and electromyographic response. A total of 1600 sEMG recordings were analyzed from 20 spinal manipulative therapy treatments, and comparisons were made between segmental level, segmental contact point (spinous vs. transverse processes), and magnitude of the reflex response (peak-peak [p-p] ratio and relative mean sEMG). Positive sEMG responses were defined as >2.5 p-p baseline sEMG output (>3.5% relative mean sEMG output). SEMG threshold was further assessed for correlation of patient self-reported pain and disability. RESULTS: Consistent, but relatively localized, reflex responses occurred in response to the localized, brief duration MFMA thrusts delivered to the thoracolumbar spine and SI joints. The time to peak tension (sEMG magnitude) ranged from 50 to 200 msec, and the reflex response times ranged from 2 to 4 msec, the latter consistent with intraspinal conduction times. Overall, the 20 treatments produced systematic and significantly different L5 and L3 sEMG responses, particularly for thrusts delivered to the lumbosacral spine. Thrusts applied over the transverse processes produced more positive sEMG responses (25.4%) in comparison with thrusts applied over the spinous processes (20.6%). Left side thrusts and right side thrusts over the transverse processes elicited positive contralateral L5 and L3 sEMG responses. When the data were examined across both treatment level and electrode site (L5 or L3, L or R), 95% of patients showed positive sEMG response to MFMA thrusts. Patients with frequent to constant low back pain symptoms tended to have a more marked sEMG response in comparison with patients with occasional to intermittent low back pain. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study demonstrating neuromuscular reflex responses associated with MFMA spinal manipulative therapy in patients with low back pain. Noteworthy was the finding that such mechanical stimulation of both the paraspinal musculature (transverse processes) and spinous processes produced consistent, generally localized sEMG responses. Identification of neuromuscular characteristics, together with a comprehensive assessment of patient clinical status, may provide for clarification of the significance of spinal manipulative therapy in eliciting putative conservative therapeutic benefits in patients with pain of musculoskeletal origin.     

Algorithm in low back pain management in adults]

Currently recommended management for low back pain in adults is presented. The algorithm consists of two phases. In a patient presenting acute low back pain with no previous history thorough clinical evaluation (phase I) should aim at exclusion of cauda equina syndrome, fracture, neoplasm, infection, progressive neurological deficit, or chronic pain syndrome. If none of these condition is responsible for low back pain 4-6 weeks therapy depending on the severity of symptoms should be commenced. Then clinical reevaluation is indicated and if pain persists patient should be referred to a specialist (phase II). Previous diagnosis and treatment should be reviewed critically; if found appropriate the treatment might be repeated during phase II. Primary sources of low back pain as herniated nucleus pulposus, unremitting low back pain (segmental instability), spondylolysis, isthmic spondylolisthesis degenerative spondylolisthesis with spinal stenosis should be identified and appropriate treatment (surgical or conservative) undertaken. Patient education is an important component of phase II. In general, phase II of the algorithm aims at returning the patient to full psychophysical activity and at prevention of low back pain recurrence.