Selective Criteria May Increase Lumbosacral Spine Roentgenogram Use in Acute Low-Back Pain

1989 ◽  
Vol 149 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Linda M. Frazier
2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (04) ◽  
pp. 484-488
Author(s):  
Muhammad Imran Hameed Daula ◽  
Saima Amin ◽  
Asma Bano

Objectives: X ray of the lumbosacral spine is widely used in our clinical settingearly on in the management of patients presenting with nonspecific acute low back pain. Thispractice is in contradiction to the clinical practice guidelines however patient satisfaction isusually the main motive declared by clinicians following this practice. This study was conductedto detect the radiologic prevalence of the most commonly diagnosed congenital anomaliesin lumbosacral spine X rays done for patients presenting with nonspecific acute low backpain. Study Design & Setting: Prospective descriptive study at Shalamar Hospital Lahore,Pakistan. Duration of Study: Six months from September 2014 to February 2015. Subjectsand Methods: Radiographs of 400 patients presenting with non-specific acute low back painand fulfilling the inclusion / exclusion criteria were examined. Data was analyzed on SPSSversion 13 and percentage and frequency of patients with non-specific acute low back painwith lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV), spina bifida and spondylolysis was calculated.Results: Out of 400 patients 185 were males and 215 were females. Age of the patients rangedfrom 15 to 36 years with mean age of 28 (SD ±4.84). 145 patients (36.25%) were found to havecongenital anomalies of lumbosacral vertebrae in question. The prevalence of LSTV was 19.5%(78 patients), spina bifida was 10% (40 patients) and spondylolysis was 9% (36 patients). 2%(9 patients) had more than one anomaly. Conclusions: This study shows a higher prevalenceof lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LSTV) and spondylolysis in Pakistani patients presentingwith non-specific acute low backache, compared to that quoted in literature. This arguably mayconstitute a convincing argument in favor of obtaining lumbosacral spine X-rays early on in themanagement of young patients presenting with non-specific acute low backache.


2020 ◽  
Vol 91 (12) ◽  
pp. 940-947
Author(s):  
Matthias Albermann ◽  
Maria Lehmann ◽  
Christian Eiche ◽  
Joachim Schmidt ◽  
Johannes Prottengeier

BACKGROUND: In their working life, airline pilots are exposed to particular risk factors that promote nonspecific low back pain (LBP). Because of the varying incidence internationally, we evaluated the point prevalences of acute, subacute, and chronic nonspecific LBP, as well as the current prevalences in German airline pilots. Furthermore, we compared the prevalence to the general German population and to European counterparts.METHODS: An anonymous online survey of 698 participating German airline pilots was evaluated. The impairment between groups was analyzed. Prevalences from our data were compared to existing data.RESULTS: The following point prevalences were found: 8.2% acute, 2.4% subacute, 82.7% chronic LBP; 74.1% of all individuals were suffering from current LBP when answered the questionnaire. A total time spent flying greater than 600 h within the last 12 mo was significantly related to acute nonspecific LBP. Individuals with any type of LBP were significantly impaired compared to those unaffected. It was found that German airline pilots suffer more often from current LBP than the general population and have a higher point prevalence of total LBP than their European counterparts.CONCLUSIONS: The evaluation showed a surprisingly high, previously unidentified, prevalence of nonspecific LBP in German airline pilots. Why German airline pilots suffer more often from LBP remains uncertain. The number of flying hours appears to have a negative effect on developing acute low back pain, but causation cannot be concluded. Other risk factors could not be confirmed.Albermann M, Lehmann M, Eiche C, Schmidt J, Prottengeier J. Low back pain in commercial airline pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2020; 91(12):940947.


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