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A study was conducted to evaluate whether a clinical examination for lower back pain is suitable enough for the diagnosis of clinical syndrome of lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). Results indicated that such diagnosis requires the appropriate clinical picture and radiographic findings and a combination of findings are generally useful in diagnosis.

A careful history and physical examination can determine the cause of pain, whether surgery will be required to relieve it and whether the patient has any psychological problems that may interfere with treatment. Low back pain is the second most common reason for patient office visits. Though 70% of adults have suffered from low back pain, it seldom lasts more than two weeks. Up to 85% of patients with low back pain cannot be precisely diagnosed because symptoms, physiological changes and imaging results do not correlate. An X-ray is no longer recommended for every patient because it does not always contribute to the diagnosis, and exposes the patient to gonadal irradiation. It is recommended only if there is evidence of a neurologic disorder, in patients over age 50 or under age 20, and in patients with fever, trauma or signs of cancer.

Abstract Background Pain variability in acute LBP has received limited study. The objectives of this pilot study were to characterize fluctuations in pain during acute LBP, to determine whether self-reported 'flares' of pain represent discrete periods of increased pain intensity, and to examine whether the frequency of flares was associated with back-related disability outcomes. Methods We conducted a cohort study of acute LBP patients utilizing frequent serial assessments and Internet-based data collection. Adults with acute LBP (lasting ≤3 months) completed questionnaires at the time of seeking care, and at both 3-day and 1-week intervals, for 6 weeks. Back pain was measured using a numerical pain rating scale (NPRS), and disability was measured using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). A pain flare was defined as 'a period of increased pain lasting at least 2 hours, when your pain intensity is distinctly worse than it has been recently'. We used mixed-effects linear regression to model longitudinal changes in pain intensity, and multivariate linear regression to model associations between flare frequency and disability outcomes. Results 42 of 47 participants (89%) reported pain flares, and the average number of discrete flare periods per patient was 3.5 over 6 weeks of follow-up. More than half of flares were less than 4 hours in duration, and about 75% of flares were less than one day in duration. A model with a quadratic trend for time best characterized improvements in pain. Pain decreased rapidly during the first 14 days after seeking care, and leveled off after about 28 days. Patients who reported a pain flare experienced an almost 3-point greater current NPRS than those not reporting a flare (mean difference [SD] 2.70 [0.11]; p < 0.0001). Higher flare frequency was independently associated with a higher final ODI score (ß [SE} 0.28 (0.08); p = 0.002). Conclusions Acute LBP is characterized by variability. Patients with acute LBP report multiple distinct flares of pain, which correspond to discrete increases in pain intensity. A higher flare frequency is associated with worse disability outcomes.

Abstract Background- Prior studies that have concluded that disk degeneration uniformly precedes facet degeneration have been based on convenience samples of individuals with low back pain. We conducted a study to examine whether the view that spinal degeneration begins with the anterior spinal structures is supported by epidemiologic observations of degeneration in a community-based population. Methods- 361 participants from the Framingham Heart Study were included in this study. The prevalences of anterior vertebral structure degeneration (disk height loss) and posterior vertebral structure degeneration (facet joint osteoarthritis) were characterized by CT imaging. The cohort was divided into the structural subgroups of participants with 1) no degeneration, 2) isolated anterior degeneration (without posterior degeneration), 3) combined anterior and posterior degeneration, and 4) isolated posterior degeneration (without anterior structure degeneration). We determined the prevalence of each degeneration pattern by age group < 45, 45-54, 55-64, ≥65. In multivariate analyses we examined the association between disk height loss and the response variable of facet joint osteoarthritis, while adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and smoking. Results- As the prevalence of the no degeneration and isolated anterior degeneration patterns decreased with increasing age group, the prevalence of the combined anterior/posterior degeneration pattern increased. 22% of individuals demonstrated isolated posterior degeneration, without an increase in prevalence by age group. Isolated posterior degeneration was most common at the L5-S1 and L4-L5 spinal levels. In multivariate analyses, disk height loss was independently associated with facet joint osteoarthritis, as were increased age (years), female sex, and increased BMI (kg/m2), but not smoking. Conclusions- The observed epidemiology of lumbar spinal degeneration in the community-based population is consistent with an ordered progression beginning in the anterior structures, for the majority of individuals. However, some individuals demonstrate atypical patterns of degeneration, beginning in the posterior joints. Increased age and BMI, and female sex may be related to the occurrence of isolated posterior degeneration in these individuals.

Abstract Background No prior studies have examined systematic bias in the musculoskeletal physical examination. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of bias due to prior knowledge of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging findings (MRI) on perceived diagnostic accuracy of the physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy. Methods This was a cross-sectional comparison of the performance characteristics of the physical examination with blinding to MRI results (the 'independent group') with performance in the situation where the physical examination was not blinded to MRI results (the 'non-independent group'). The reference standard was the final diagnostic impression of nerve root impingement by the examining physician. Subjects were recruited from a hospital-based outpatient specialty spine clinic. All adults age 18 and older presenting with lower extremity radiating pain of duration ≤ 12 weeks were evaluated for participation. 154 consecutively recruited subjects with lumbar disk herniation confirmed by lumbar spine MRI were included in this study. Sensitivities and specificities with 95% confidence intervals were calculated in the independent and non-independent groups for the four components of the radiculopathy examination: 1) provocative testing, 2) motor strength testing, 3) pinprick sensory testing, and 4) deep tendon reflex testing. Results The perceived sensitivity of sensory testing was higher with prior knowledge of MRI results (20% vs. 36%; p = 0.05). Sensitivities and specificities for exam components otherwise showed no statistically significant differences between groups. Conclusions Prior knowledge of lumbar MRI results may introduce bias into the pinprick sensory testing component of the physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy. No statistically significant effect of bias was seen for other components of the physical examination. The effect of bias due to prior knowledge of lumbar MRI results should be considered when an isolated sensory deficit on examination is used in medical decision-making. Further studies of bias should include surgical clinic populations and other common diagnoses including shoulder, knee and hip pathology.

Background: Cervical radiculopathy (CR) is a clinical diagnosis defined as a combination of neck, shoulder, and arm pain, often accompanied by sensory and motor symptoms. CR is often caused by degenerative spine pathology associated with impingement of a cervical nerve root, and this pathology can be visualized using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT). [Correction added September 4, 2019, after online publication: 'computer tomography' corrected to 'computed tomography'] Factors that are associated with the onset of CR have not been explored.Objective: To investigate the types and frequencies of patient-reported inciting events associated with CR in patients with imaged-confirmed pathologies that correlate with symptoms.Design: Prospective observational case series.Setting: Two spine physiatry and three orthopedic spine surgery practices.Patients: One hundred twenty-two patients with symptoms suggestive of CR were recruited. Of these, 107 patients had MRI or CT evidence of cervical disk herniation or foraminal stenosis that correlated with symptoms and matched our inclusion criteria.Methods: We categorized patient-reported inciting events associated with onset of CR into six categories reflecting increasing severity of inciting event, and recorded the clinical characteristics, physical examination findings, pain intensity, and disability. We analyzed the characteristics of patients based on subgroups of inciting events.Results: Two-thirds of patients reported that they either awoke with symptoms or symptoms began without a memorable event, and one-third of patients reported inciting physical activity or trauma associated with the onset of CR. Clinical characteristics of CR were not influenced by categories of inciting events.Conclusion: Most CR with correlating spine pathology was found to have onset without a specific inciting events. Furthermore, physical inciting events did not influence the severity of clinical manifestation of CR.Level Of Evidence: IV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Leg pain associated with walking is sometimes incorrectly attributed to hip osteoarthritis (OA) or lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS).Purpose: This study compared physicians' values of signs and symptoms for diagnosing and differentiating hip OA and LSS to their clinical utility.Study Design/setting: Musculoskeletal physicians were surveyed with online questionnaires. Patients were recruited from hip and spine specialty practices.Patient Sample: Seventy-seven hip OA and 79 LSS patients.Outcome Measures: Signs and symptoms of hip OA and LSS.Methods: Fifty-one of 66 invited musculoskeletal physicians completed online surveys about the values of 83 signs and symptoms for diagnosing hip OA and LSS. Of these, the most valued 32 symptoms and 13 physical examination items were applied to patients with symptomatic hip OA or LSS. Positive likelihood ratios (+LR) were calculated for each items' ability to differentiate hip OA from LSS, with a +LR>2 set as indicating usefulness for favoring either diagnosis. Positive LRs were compared with surveyed physicians' values for each test.Results: All symptoms were reported by some patients with each diagnosis. Only 11 of 32 physician-valued symptoms were useful for discriminating hip OA from LSS. Eight symptoms favored hip OA over LSS: groin pain (+LR=4.9); knee pain (+LR=2.2); pain that decreased with continued walking (+LR=3.9); pain that occurs immediately with walking (+LR=2.4); pain that occurs immediately with standing (+LR=2.1); pain getting in/out of a car (+LR=3.3); pain with dressing the symptomatic leg (+LR=3.1); and difficulty reaching the foot of the symptomatic leg while dressing (+LR=2.3). Three symptoms favored LSS over hip OA: pain below the knee (+LR=2.3); leg tingling and/or numbness (+LR=2.7); and some pain in both legs (+LR=2.5). Notable symptoms that did not discriminate hip OA from LSS included: pain is less while pushing a shopping cart (+LR=1.0); back pain (+LR=1.1); weakness and/or heaviness of leg (+LR=1.1); buttocks pain (+LR=1.2); poor balance or unsteadiness (+LR=1.2); pain that increased with weight-bearing on the painful leg (+LR=1.3), and step to gait on stairs (+LR=1.7). Consistent with physicians' expectations, 7 of 13 physical examination items strongly favored hip OA over LSS: limited weight-bearing on painful leg when standing (+LR=10); observed limp (+LR=9); and painful and restricted range-of-motion with any of five hip maneuvers (+LR range 21-99). Four of five tested neurological deficits (+LR range 3-8) favored the diagnosis of LSS over hip OA.Conclusions: There is substantial crossover of symptoms between hip OA and LSS, with some physician-valued symptoms useful for differentiating these disorders whereas others were not. Physicians recognize the value of the examination of gait, the hip, and lower extremity neurological function for differentiating hip OA from LSS. These tests should be routinely performed on all patients for which either diagnosis is considered. Awareness of these findings might reduce diagnostic errors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design. Comparative study using combined data from 2 prospective cohort studies. Objective. To expose the differences between the clinical characteristics of neurogenic claudication from magnetic resonance image-documented lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) and lumbosacral radicular syndrome from acute, magnetic resonance image-documented, lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Summary of Background Data. LSS and LDH are the common lumbar disorders that produce lower extremity pain. Though known factors such as pain induced by walking for LSS and the rapid onset of symptoms for LDH are useful for differentiating these disorders, exploration of differences in other factors has received limited study. Methods. This study included participants aged 60 yr or older from 2 previous studies. One examined walking limitations caused by LSS and the second the natural history of LDH in elderly adults. The clinical features of both groups were compared by calculating means, medians, and standard deviations for continuous variables, and frequencies for categorical variables. χ² test was used to explore differences between LSS and LDH for categorical variables, and Student t test or Mann-Whitney test for continuous variables. Results. Participants with LSS had more medical comorbidity, less intense leg pain, and less disability than those with LDH. Leg pain was more common in the anterior thigh, anterior knee and shin in LDH, and in the posterior knee in LSS. Trunk flexion was more impaired in LDH. Positive straight leg raising and femoral stretch signs were common in LDH, and rare in LSS. Abnormal Achilles reflexes were noted more frequently in LSS. Conclusion. In addition to established factors, greater leg pain intensity, greater disability, and pain in the anterior leg are more common in the elderly with LDH than in the elderly with LSS. Normal trunk flexion, absence of nerve root tension signs and abnormal Achilles reflexes are more common in LSS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study on the performance characteristics of single physical examination on patients with lumbosacral radicular pain using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) on midlumbar, low lumbar and level-specific nerve root impingement. Patients with lower extremity radiating pain for less than 12 weeks were eligible to participate. It concludes that physical examination can provide useful diagnostic information for detecting midlumbar, low lumbar and level-specific nerve root impingement on MRI.

Background: No prior studies have examined systematic bias in the musculoskeletal physical examination. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of bias due to prior knowledge of lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging findings (MRI) on perceived diagnostic accuracy of the physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy. Methods: This was a cross-sectional comparison of the performance characteristics of the physical examination with blinding to MRI results (the 'independent group') with performance in the situation where the physical examination was not blinded to MRI results (the 'non-independent group'). The reference standard was the final diagnostic impression of nerve root impingement by the examining physician. Subjects were recruited from a hospital-based outpatient specialty spine clinic. All adults age 18 and older presenting with lower extremity radiating pain of duration ≤ 12 weeks were evaluated for participation. 154 consecutively recruited subjects with lumbar disk herniation confirmed by lumbar spine MRI were included in this study. Sensitivities and specificities with 95% confidence intervals were calculated in the independent and non-independent groups for the four components of the radiculopathy examination: 1) provocative testing, 2) motor strength testing, 3) pinprick sensory testing, and 4) deep tendon reflex testing. Results: The perceived sensitivity of sensory testing was higher with prior knowledge of MRI results (20% vs. 36%; p = 0.05). Sensitivities and specificities for exam components otherwise showed no statistically significant differences between groups. Conclusions: Prior knowledge of lumbar MRI results may introduce bias into the pinprick sensory testing component of the physical examination for lumbar radiculopathy. No statistically significant effect of bias was seen for other components of the physical examination. The effect of bias due to prior knowledge of lumbar MRI results should be considered when an isolated sensory deficit on examination is used in medical decision-making. Further studies of bias should include surgical clinic populations and other common diagnoses including shoulder, knee and hip pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses how features of the clinical history and physical examination influence therapeutic choices and other factors in the treatment of low back pain. Structures in the lumbar spine which may be involved in low back pain; Degenerative changes; Spinal stenosis; Scoliosis and spondylolisthesis; Malignant neoplasm and the spine; Spinal infections; Lumbar disk herniations; Assessment of motor, reflex and sensory function; More.

This paper discusses specific techniques for rehabilitation of chronic low back pain through aggressive physical therapy with behavioral support. The rationale for approaching the outcome dimensions of impairments in back function and pain-related disability as opposed to chronic pain symptoms is explained. This approach requires that impairments in back function are systematically identified through the quantification of trunk flexibility, straight leg raising, back extensor strength, lifting ability, and endurance. The described treatment approach focuses on eliminating those impairments through aggressive, quota-based exercise and is usually completed within 8 weeks. It requires only a modest amount of space and equipment. Useful behavioral techniques for extinguishing pain behaviors, lessening pain beliefs, and for promoting wellness are described. Results from a treatment program using these techniques demonstrate normal back function and reduced disability for a majority of treated persons. Applying such a program to the VA population is an important challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]