Diagnostic considerations in patients with back pain.
It should be obvious from this article that usually only a focused history and physical examination are needed to evaluate a back patient. A summary of guideline recommendations presented by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research is provided in Table 7. If followed, few serious mistakes will occur, and a more cost-effective management of the back patient will be possible.
Andersson
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Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center, Chicago, Illinois, USA.
D001416:Back Pain / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods; D008487:Medical History Taking / Q000379:methods; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity