Health Dictionary

Abbreviations: ABG = Arterial blood gases, ANA = Antinuclear antibodies, BUN = Blood urea nitrogen, CRP = C-reactive protein, CT = Computed tomography, DRA = Dual energy radiographic absorptiometry, DRE = Digital rectal exam, ERCP = Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ESR = Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HSV = Herpes simplex virus, IVP = Intravenous pyelography, KUB = Kidney, bladder, ureter, LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase, LFT = Liver function test, MRA = Magnetic resonance angiography, MRC = Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging, MRU = Magnetic resonance urography, NSAIDs = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, PCR = Polymerase chain reaction, PET – FDG = Positive emission tomography – fluorodeoxyglucose, PET = Positive emission tomography, PID = Pelvic inflammatory disease, PSA = Prostatic specific antigen, PTC = Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, RUQ = Right upper quadrant, SPECT = Single-photon emission computed tomography, TFT = Thyroid function test, VZV = Varicella zoster virus

Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner’s syndrome	Lab findings	Imaging
Neurological	Arachnoiditis^[1]	Acute	Hours	Dull aching pain	Head, neck and back	+/-	+	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	CSF Elevated protein with normal or low glucose Culture and sensitivity May be due to TB or Meningitis Nucleic acid tests Helpful in tuberculous meningitis	Radiography Thickened nerve roots CT Narrowing of subarachnoid space Irregular collections of contrast material Thickened nerve roots MRI Study of choice shows indistinct cord outline	Usually caused by meningitis or TB
	Epidural abscess^[2]^[3]	Acute	Variable	Dull, throbbing pain	Locally	–	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	CBC May show leukocytosis, left shift, thrombocytopenia, and anemia ESR Elevated Culture and sensitivity To identify causative organism Immunohistochemical staining Includes gram stain, special stains for fungi and mycobacteria, also consider brucella	MRI Of choice and demonstrates fluid collection CT Demonstrates fluid collection Radiography Demonstrates osteomyelitis or vertebral collapse	LP carries risk of spread of infection
	Radiculopathy^[4]^[5]	Acute	Variable	Severe, shooting pain	Anterior thigh and knee	+/-	–	–	–	–	–	–	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	–	Typically no specific lab findings	Radiography To rule out serious underlying etiology CT Demonstrates disc herniation MRI Demonstrates disc herniation and nerve root impingement Myelography Used preoperatively to visualize spinal anatomy accurately Discography To localize a symptomatic disc	Disc herniation is the most common cause of nerve impingement
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner’s syndrome	Lab findings	Imaging
Bone
	Degenerative disc disease^[6]^[7]	Subacute or chronic	Years	Dull aching	Local	+/-	–	–	–	–	–	–	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	Serology HLA-B27 may be positive or negative IgA may be elevated ANA may be positive Rheumatoid factor may be positive CBC May indicate anemia ESR May be elevated CRP May be elevated Uric acid May be elevated	MRI Demonstrates delineation and position of vertebrae CT Demonstrates delineation and position of vertebrae May also visualize nerve root compression and nerve swelling Diskography Controversial, demonstrates disc herniation	Transforaminal selective nerve root blocks are used diagnostically and therapeutically in cases presenting with radicular pain
	Spinal stenosis^[8]^[9]	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Hips and legs	+/-	–	–	–	–	–	–	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	Typically no specific lab findings	MRI Demonstrates narrowing of central canal, lateral recess, and neuronal foramina CT Demonstrates narrowing of central canal, lateral recess, and neuronal foramina	Premature imaging is strongly not recommended and may harm patient Normal aging process
	Spondylosis^[10]^[11]	Chronic^[12]	Years	Dull aching	Shoulders, arms, hips and legs	+/-	–	–	+/-	–	–	–	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	Typically no specific lab findings	Radiography Demonstrates osteophytes and disc-space narrowing MRI Demonstrates the location of destruction and surrounding soft tissue CT myelography Demonstrates osteophytes and calcified opacities	Progresses with aging
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner’s syndrome	Lab findings	Imaging
Miscellaneous	Trauma^[13]	Acute or chronic	Variable	Severe, sharp to dull aching	Variable	+/-	–	–	–	+/-	+/-	–	+/-	+/-	–	–	+/-	+/-	After establishment of first aid protocol, the following lab tests may be useful; Pregnancy test In women of child-bearing age Blood typing, screening and cross matching In case of blood transfusion Prothrombin time To assess those taking warfarin Creatine kinase To determine incidence of rhadomyolysis Blood sugar To determine hypoglycemia Cardiac enzymes To determine incidence of myocardial infarction Toxicology screen and alcohol level To determine alcoholism and drug use Serum lactate Elevated serum lactate may indicate a serious injury	To assess trauma, the following imaging may be used; Portable radiography Ultrasound CT Peritoneal tap or lavage Echocardiography

References

↑ Ozateş M, Kemaloglu S, Gürkan F, Ozkan U, Hoşoglu S, Simşek MM (January 2000). “CT of the brain in tuberculous meningitis. A review of 289 patients”. Acta Radiol. 41 (1): 13–7. PMID 10665863.
↑ Nathoo N, Nadvi SS, van Dellen JR (April 1999). “Cranial extradural empyema in the era of computed tomography: a review of 82 cases”. Neurosurgery. 44 (4): 748–53, discussion 753–4. PMID 10201299.
↑ Heran NS, Steinbok P, Cochrane DD (October 2003). “Conservative neurosurgical management of intracranial epidural abscesses in children”. Neurosurgery. 53 (4): 893–7, discussion 897–8. PMID 14519222.
↑ Bischoff RJ, Rodriguez RP, Gupta K, Righi A, Dalton JE, Whitecloud TS (August 1993). “A comparison of computed tomography-myelography, magnetic resonance imaging, and myelography in the diagnosis of herniated nucleus pulposus and spinal stenosis”. J Spinal Disord. 6 (4): 289–95. PMID 8219542.
↑ Tarulli AW, Raynor EM (May 2007). “Lumbosacral radiculopathy”. Neurol Clin. 25 (2): 387–405. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2007.01.008.
↑ Deyo RA, Tsui-Wu YJ (April 1987). “Descriptive epidemiology of low-back pain and its related medical care in the United States”. Spine. 12 (3): 264–8. PMID 2954221.
↑ Slipman CW, Sterenfeld EB, Chou LH, Herzog R, Vresilovic E (March 1998). “The predictive value of provocative sacroiliac joint stress maneuvers in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint syndrome”. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 79 (3): 288–92. PMID 9523780.
↑ Katz JN, Harris MB (February 2008). “Clinical practice. Lumbar spinal stenosis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 358 (8): 818–25. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp0708097. PMID 18287604.
↑ Ciol MA, Deyo RA, Howell E, Kreif S (March 1996). “An assessment of surgery for spinal stenosis: time trends, geographic variations, complications, and reoperations”. J Am Geriatr Soc. 44 (3): 285–90. PMID 8600197.
↑ Yabuki S, Kikuchi S (July 1996). “Positions of dorsal root ganglia in the cervical spine. An anatomic and clinical study”. Spine. 21 (13): 1513–7. PMID 8817777.
↑ Lestini WF, Wiesel SW (February 1989). “The pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis”. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. (239): 69–93. PMID 2536306.
↑ Storm PB, Chou D, Tamargo RJ (August 2002). “Surgical management of cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathies: indications and outcomes”. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 13 (3): 735–59. PMID 12380556.
↑ Inaba K, DuBose JJ, Barmparas G, Barbarino R, Reddy S, Talving P, Lam L, Demetriades D (January 2011). “Clinical examination is insufficient to rule out thoracolumbar spine injuries”. J Trauma. 70 (1): 174–9. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d3cc6e. PMID 20489662.

[pmid10665863-1] Ozateş M, Kemaloglu S, Gürkan F, Ozkan U, Hoşoglu S, Simşek MM (January 2000). “CT of the brain in tuberculous meningitis. A review of 289 patients”. Acta Radiol. 41 (1): 13–7. PMID 10665863.

[pmid10201299-2] Nathoo N, Nadvi SS, van Dellen JR (April 1999). “Cranial extradural empyema in the era of computed tomography: a review of 82 cases”. Neurosurgery. 44 (4): 748–53, discussion 753–4. PMID 10201299.

[pmid14519222-3] Heran NS, Steinbok P, Cochrane DD (October 2003). “Conservative neurosurgical management of intracranial epidural abscesses in children”. Neurosurgery. 53 (4): 893–7, discussion 897–8. PMID 14519222.

[pmid8219542-4] Bischoff RJ, Rodriguez RP, Gupta K, Righi A, Dalton JE, Whitecloud TS (August 1993). “A comparison of computed tomography-myelography, magnetic resonance imaging, and myelography in the diagnosis of herniated nucleus pulposus and spinal stenosis”. J Spinal Disord. 6 (4): 289–95. PMID 8219542.

[pmid-5] Tarulli AW, Raynor EM (May 2007). “Lumbosacral radiculopathy”. Neurol Clin. 25 (2): 387–405. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2007.01.008.

[pmid2954221-6] Deyo RA, Tsui-Wu YJ (April 1987). “Descriptive epidemiology of low-back pain and its related medical care in the United States”. Spine. 12 (3): 264–8. PMID 2954221.

[pmid9523780-7] Slipman CW, Sterenfeld EB, Chou LH, Herzog R, Vresilovic E (March 1998). “The predictive value of provocative sacroiliac joint stress maneuvers in the diagnosis of sacroiliac joint syndrome”. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 79 (3): 288–92. PMID 9523780.

[pmid18287604-8] Katz JN, Harris MB (February 2008). “Clinical practice. Lumbar spinal stenosis”. N. Engl. J. Med. 358 (8): 818–25. doi:10.1056/NEJMcp0708097. PMID 18287604.

[pmid8600197-9] Ciol MA, Deyo RA, Howell E, Kreif S (March 1996). “An assessment of surgery for spinal stenosis: time trends, geographic variations, complications, and reoperations”. J Am Geriatr Soc. 44 (3): 285–90. PMID 8600197.

[pmid8817777-10] Yabuki S, Kikuchi S (July 1996). “Positions of dorsal root ganglia in the cervical spine. An anatomic and clinical study”. Spine. 21 (13): 1513–7. PMID 8817777.

[pmid2536306-11] Lestini WF, Wiesel SW (February 1989). “The pathogenesis of cervical spondylosis”. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. (239): 69–93. PMID 2536306.

[pmid12380556-12] Storm PB, Chou D, Tamargo RJ (August 2002). “Surgical management of cervical and lumbosacral radiculopathies: indications and outcomes”. Phys Med Rehabil Clin N Am. 13 (3): 735–59. PMID 12380556.

[pmid20489662-13] Inaba K, DuBose JJ, Barmparas G, Barbarino R, Reddy S, Talving P, Lam L, Demetriades D (January 2011). “Clinical examination is insufficient to rule out thoracolumbar spine injuries”. J Trauma. 70 (1): 174–9. doi:10.1097/TA.0b013e3181d3cc6e. PMID 20489662.

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Health Dictionary

Back pain, bowel or bladder dysfunction and horner's syndrome

Introduction

References