LOW BACK PAIN—A CLINICAL STUDY OF ITS CAUSE

1. That the major portion of the cases of low back pain seen in the Orthopedic Clinic of the Touro Infirmary are believed to be sprains of the lumbo-sacral ligaments, with many superimposed intercurrent infections, including lues.

2. That the location of pain is definitely assigned by the sufferers to the lumbo-sacral joint or the lumbo-sacral angles, and not in the neighborhood of the sacro-iliac joint.

3. That no examiner does his full duty to his patient nor can he arrive at an accurate diagnosis unless a careful and complete examination is done (possibly excluding the heart and lungs), especially in reference to infectious foci. And further, that he insist upon these foci being cleared up.

4. That too much dependence is put upon the x-ray as an aid to diagnosis. It is most useful in determining fractures and real dislocations in and around the low spine, but that bony anomalies and socalled sacro-iliac separation shown should not be interpreted as the cause for the low back pain, especially in cases of sudden onset.

5. That a venereal history and investigation are of great importance in both sexes.

6. That adhesive plaster strapping when applied promptly and firmly to the entire spine gives early relief, but should be supplemented with some form of permanent fixation for a short period after the temporary fixation has been removed.

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Technorati    What's this?