title: [Unusual differential diagnosis of posttraumatic back pain].
abstract: The differential diagnosis of lumbar back pain includes a broad spectrum of vertebral and extravertebral pathologies. Even in cases of a traumatic event physicians should keep an extravertebral cause in mind. This is a case report on the coincidence of perforated sigma diverticulitis and traumatic spine compression fracture in an 85-year-old woman with acute back pain. The presence of free retroperitoneal gas in the computed tomography (CT) scan was of significant diagnostic importance.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Unfall- und Wiederherstellungschirurgie, Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Ernst-Grube-Straße 40, 06120, Halle, Deutschland, holger.siekmann@uk.uni-halle.de.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Siekmann
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Adler
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schneider
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Weinitschke
authors.forename: A G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001416:Back Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004239:Diverticulitis, Colonic / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D050815:Fractures, Compression / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D011859:Radiography; D016103:Spinal Fractures / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*