title: Emergency department evaluation and treatment of back pain.
abstract: Patients with back pain commonly present in the emergency department for evaluation and treatment. Because it is a common syndrome with a generally benign origin, the examiner may overlook markers of serious disease. This article reviews the important historical and physical factors to consider, with an emphasis on the red flags of serious disease. This article also reviews the management of acute lumbosacral strain, sciatica, and disc herniation, cauda equina syndrome and spinal cord compression, and back pain in the patient with a history of cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Madigan-University of Washington Emergency Medicine Residency Program, Tacoma, USA.
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Della-Giustina
mesh_terms: D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D010808:Physical Examination; D011128:Polyradiculopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D012585:Sciatica / Q000209:etiology; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis