Evaluation and management of paediatric and adolescent back pain: Epidemiology, presentation, investigation, and clinical management: A narrative review.

Evaluation and management of paediatric and adolescent back pain: Epidemiology, presentation, investigation, and clinical management: A narrative review. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2019 Sep 06;: Authors: Roberts SB, Calligeros K, Tsirikos AI Abstract This narrative review will summarise a clinical approach to the investigation of back pain in children and adolescent patients, including a discussion of the epidemiology, presentation, investigation and clinical management of back pain in children and adolescents. This will assist the prompt and accurate diagnosis of spinal disorders that require significant medical intervention. Existing evidence suggests a relatively high incidence of non-specific back pain among young people; 27-48% of presentations of back pain in children and adolescents are attributed to non-specific back pain. Low back pain among schoolchildren is often linked to psychosocial factors and only occasionally requires medical attention, as pain is benign and self-limiting. Nonetheless, those young patients who seek medical assistance exhibit a higher incidence of organic conditions underlying the major symptom of spinal pain. A cautious and comprehensive strategy - including a detailed history, examination, radiographic imaging and diagnostic laboratory studies - should be employed, which must be accurate, reliable, consistent and reproducible in identifying spinal pathologies. A specific diagnosis can be reached ...
Source: Journal of Back and Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation - Category: Orthopaedics Tags: J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil Source Type: research