Use of Imaging During Emergency Department Visits for Low Back Pain

2020 ◽  
Vol 214 (2) ◽  
pp. 395-399
Author(s):  
Jina Pakpoor ◽  
Micheal Raad ◽  
Andrew Harris ◽  
Varun Puvanesarajah ◽  
Joseph K. Canner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Low Back

scholarly journals LO001: The prevalence of low back pain in the emergency department: a systematic review and primary study in the Charles V. Keating Emergency and Trauma Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

CJEM ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (S1) ◽  
pp. S30-S30 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Edwards ◽  
J. Hayden ◽  
K. Magee ◽  
M. Asbridge
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Trauma Centre ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Primary Study ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Charles V

Introduction: Low back pain (LBP) may be having a significant impact on emergency departments (ED) around the world. Two analyses conducted in the USA and Australia suggest that LBP is one of the leading causes of emergency department visits. However, in the peer-reviewed literature, there has been limited focus on the prevalence and management of back pain in the ED setting. Furthermore, the applicability of the available research to our local ED setting is unclear. Methods: This project includes two studies to investigate the prevalence of LBP in the ED: 1. a comprehensive systematic review of the published literature to gather a comprehensive and global perspective about the prevalence of LBP in the ED setting, and 2. a retrospective cross sectional analysis using six years of data from our local ED, the Charles V. Keating Emergency and Trauma Centre, Halifax, Nova Scotia. Results: Searches from multiple databases including PubMed (392 citations), resulted in 3024 citations, of which 20 studies were found to have prevalence data for LBP. Studies were reported between 2001–2015 and used mixed methods of data collection, including electronic databases, surveys and patient charts. Ranges for prevalence estimates were 1.9% to 17% of patient visits. Results indicated there are many gaps in the literature, for example research in rural EDs and in Canada. In our primary study, we have identified a sample of 10 000 patients presenting with LBP to our local ED. Analysis of this data will be completed prior to the CAEP conference. Conclusion: This project is the first systematic review; comprehensive search strategy to examine the prevalence of LBP in the ED. It is also the first project to assess the prevalence of LBP in a Canadian ED. Results from this study will inform healthcare providers, as well as administrative and policy decision-makers, of the global and local impact of LBP in the ED, and will identify opportunities for further research to enhance care pathways of patients suffering from LBP.

Low Back Pain in a Nova Scotian Emergency Department: Prevalence and Patient Characteristics in the Older Adult Patient Population

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Lucy Federico ◽  
Melissa K Andrew ◽  
Rachel Ogilvie ◽  
Maria Wilson ◽  
Kirk Magee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Resource Planning ◽  
Patient Characteristics ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Younger Adults ◽  
Nova Scotian

Abstract Low back pain is a major cause of disability in older adults, and results in many emergency department visits each year. Characteristics of the older back pain population are largely unknown. We conducted a retrospective study to examine the prevalence and patient characteristics for older (≥ 65 years of age) and younger (16–64 years of age) adults presenting with back pain. Study objectives were to describe the characteristics of older adults with back pain presenting to an emergency department and to identify age-group based differences in management. Older adults were most commonly diagnosed with non-specific low back pain (49%). For older adults with this diagnosis, the length of stay was 2.1 times longer (p < 0.001), and odds of being admitted to the hospital were 5.1 times higher (p < 0.001) than for younger adults. Patterns of management are different for younger and older adults with low back pain; this information can be used to direct future resource planning.

scholarly journals The emergency visits for back and neck pain during lockdowns

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nissim Ohana ◽  
Itzhak Engel ◽  
Yuval Baruch ◽  
Benharroch Daniel ◽  
Sheinis Dimitri
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Newly Diagnosed ◽  
Gender Variance ◽  
Pain Syndromes

Abstract Purpose To assess the rate of visits to the emergency department of our medical center concerning low back or neck pain as a factor of COVID-19 confinement. Methods The study period was a 30-week interval during the COVID-19 pandemic contrasted by a similar stretch in the year preceding the epidemic. Visits to the emergency department prompted by low back or neck pain were recorded prior to and during lockdowns of the pandemic. The significance of the confinements for the development of pain syndromes was evaluated. Results A total of 1530 patients with newly diagnosed back or neck pain were enrolled. Most patients visited our emergency department for low back pain, commonly those older than 60 years. No significant gender variance was disclosed, although most visits of females were for low back pain. Low back pain presentations were curbed following confinement, but the rate of stays for neck pain swelled by more than 10%. Despite back pain predominance, visits for neck pain persisted. Before COVID-19, the average weekly number of emergency department visits was 38.5. This was followed by sharp drops during the COVID-19 lockdown (mean difference=-22.2, 95% CI=-28.7, -15.7, p<0.001) (not significant). Conclusions COVID-19 lockdowns have a significant impact on emergency department presentations due to back and neck pain. A higher rate of presentation for back pain compared to neck pain is probably related to COVID-19, without being affected directly by SARS-CoV-2: confinement-induced immobility might instigate musculoskeletal sequelae, which may be attributed to stress or other psychosocial afflictions.

scholarly journals The Impact of COVID-19 On Emergency Visits For Back And Neck Pain

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nissim Ohana ◽  
Itzhak Engel ◽  
Yuval Baruch ◽  
Daniel Benharroch ◽  
Dimitri Sheinis
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Neck Pain ◽  
Medical Center ◽  
Emergency Department Visits ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Gender Variance ◽  
Pain Syndromes ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Purpose: To assess the rate of visits to the emergency department of our medical center concerning low back or neck pain, as a factor of COVID-19 confinements.Methods: The study period was a 30-weeks interval during the COVID-19 pandemic contrasted by a similar stretch in the year preceding the epidemic. The visits to the Emergency Department, prompted by low back or neck pain, were recorded prior and during lockdowns of the pandemic. The significance of the confinements for the development of the pain syndromes was evaluated.Results: A total of 1530 patients with newly diagnosed back or neck pain were enrolled. Most patients visited our emergency department for low back pain, commonly those older than 60 years. No significant gender variance was disclosed, though most visits of females were for low back pain. Low back pain presentations were curbed following confinement, but the rate of stays for neck pain had swelled by more than 10%. Despite back pain predominance, visits for neck pain persisted. Before COVID-19, the average weekly number of Emergency Department visits was 38.5. This was followed by sharp drops during COVID-19 lockdown (mean different=-22.2, 95%CI=-28.7, -15.7, p<0.001) (not significant).Conclusions: COVID-19 lockdowns have a significant impact on the Emergency Department’s presentations due to back and neck pain. A higher rate of presentation for back pain compared to neck pain is probably related to COVID-19, without being affected directly by the SARS-CoV-2: confinement-induced immobility might instigate musculoskeletal sequels, which may be attributed to stress or other psycho-social afflictions.

scholarly journals Effect of COVID-19 on management of patients with low back pain in the emergency department

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sweekriti Sharma ◽  
Adrian C. Traeger ◽  
Gustavo C. Machado ◽  
Christina Abdel Shaheed ◽  
Caitlin Jones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Low Back

scholarly journals Profile and management of patients with low back pain complaints in a Brazilian Emergency Department: a cross-sectional retrospective study

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 70-77
Author(s):  
Larissa Faria Borges ◽  
Ligia Loiola Cisneros ◽  
Danielle Aquino Silva ◽  
Amabile Borges Dario ◽  
Manuela Ferreira ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Low Back Pain ◽  
Back Pain ◽  
Pain Intensity Score ◽  
Low Back ◽  
Care Seeking ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Demographic Profile ◽  
Manchester Triage System

Objective: To describe the demographic profile and the management of patients with low back pain (LBP) complaints presenting to the Emergency Department (ED) of a Brazilian public hospital. Methods: Retrospective, cross-sectional study using a convenience sample of patients with LBP triaged at the studied ED through the Manchester Triage System along a year. Data were extracted from electronic medical records. LBP presentations were classified as non-traumatic, traumatic, and non-spinal related pain according to the signs and symptoms reported. Data included patients’ demographic profile, pain severity and management (e.g., imaging exams, medication prescription and hospitalization). Results: Data from 2016 patients was analyzed. Most were middle-aged adults (mean age = 40.5years, SD 15.7), female (n = 1043, 51.7%) and presented moderate pain intensity (score range 4 to 7 on the Visual Analogue Scale, n=1,471; 74.1%). Non-traumatic pain (n = 1,016; 50.4%) was the main cause of care-seeking. A total of 36.9% (n = 743) underwent imaging exams and 42.2% (n = 850) received medication. Patients with non-spinal related pain were three times more likely to receive opioid medication (OR = 2.96; 95%CI 2.30 to 3.79). Conclusion: Non-traumatic LBP (i.e., no history of trauma or red flags) was the main cause of LBP care-seeking in a Brazilian ED. Most patients were treated conservatively and without hospitalization. Opioids prescription and imaging exams, although performed on a smaller scale, were still used for of the management of this type of LBP.

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