title: Pseudoappendicitis: abdominal pain arising from thoracic spine dysfunction-a forgotten entity and a reminder of an important clinical lesson.
abstract: Acute or chronic abdominal pain can be mimicked by thoracic spine dysfunction. However, it is comparatively rare and there is frequently a delay in its diagnosis that may lead to unnecessary surgery, or the patient's symptoms being undiagnosed or labelled psychosomatic. The failure to associate thoracic spine dysfunction with abdominal pain persists, despite it being first recognised over 80 years ago. 2 recent such cases are presented. The clinical presentation and diagnostic tests are described, with clear explanation of the treatment and outcome. The case for including the thoracic spine examination in the assessment of patients presenting with acute abdominal or postappendectomy pain that is of unexplained origin is made.
authors.affiliation: Westcliff-on-Sea, UK.
authors.forename: Basil
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Garo-Falides
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Research Institute, Bournemouth University School of Health and Social Care, Bournemouth, UK.
authors.forename: Thomas William
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0001-7860-2990
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Wainwright
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D009407:Nerve Block; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots / Q000473:pathology*; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics