title: Sacral insufficiency fractures: an easily overlooked cause of back pain in the ED.
abstract: Sacral insufficiency fractures are an important and treatable cause of severe back pain. Despite publication of several case reports since its original description in 1982, awareness of these injuries remains inadequate in emergency medicine. Most patients are elderly women presenting with intractable lower back pain. Postmenopausal osteoporosis is the most significant risk factor. Marked sacral tenderness is common. Neurologic impairment is rarely detectable. Routine radiography of the spine and pelvis is usually inconclusive. Computed tomography remains the diagnostic modality of choice. Treatment is usually conservative.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Cork University Hospital, Cork, Ireland. johng442@hotmail.com
authors.forename: John G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Galbraith
authors.forename: Joseph S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Simon P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Blake
authors.forename: Gemma
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kelleher
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001416:Back Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D015775:Fractures, Stress / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D012447:Sacrum / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed