The Rational Clinical Examination
David L. Simel, Drummond Rennie
Low Back Pain
Ben Stern, Richard A. Deyo, James Rainville, Richard S. Bedlack
Make the Diagnosis: Low Back Pain
Topics Discussed:
back pain, criterion standard comparisons (diagnostic tests), fractures, compression, herniated disc, low back pain, lower back, make the diagnosis, prior probability, radiculopathy, spinal neoplasms
Excerpt:
"Because of the weak associations among symptoms, physical findings, imaging results, and electromyograms, a majority of patients with
low back pain (
85%) cannot be given a definitive diagnosis.
Among asymptomatic individuals, 20% to 30% have
evidence of a herniated disk on computed tomography (CT) or MRI.
However, only small portions (2%) of individuals with low
back pain eventually undergo surgery for disk herniation. Thus,
the prevalence of clinically important disk herniations is low...."
Log in to read the full chapter:
Get full access to JAMAevidence two ways:
Subscribe to JAMAevidence
JAMAevidence is a subscription-
based website dedicated to the learning, teaching, and practicing of evidence-based medicine.
Pay Per View
Timed access to all of JAMAevidence
24 hours for $29.95
48 hours for $49.95