Are Constant Pain, Night Pain, or Abnormal Neurological Examination Adequate Predictors of the Presence of a Significant Pathology Associated With Pediatric Back Pain?

Discussion: An abnormal neurological examination was found as a strong predictor for an underlying pathologic condition. Further imaging of a pediatric patient with back pain without clear explanation for their symptoms on plain radiographs should not be limited to constant pain, or night pain because clinicians could be missing important diagnosis. Therefore, the clinician cannot be assured by absence of these clinical markers, that there is no underlying spinal pathology. Level of Evidence: Level III.
Source: Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: Selected Topics Source Type: research