Assessment and management of patients with degenerative spine disease

Abstract Degenerative spine conditions can be asymptomatic but may present as back pain, leg pain, or both. Back pain is common, affecting over 80% of the population at some point. Many cases resolve with the passage of time, early rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Leg pain can either be referred, s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Surgery (Oxford) 2015-06, Vol.33 (6), p.277-280
Main Authors: Cousins, Gerard R, Breakwell, Lee M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Back pain
prolapsed intervertebral disc
radiculopathy
red flags
spinal stenosis
Surgery
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Summary:Abstract Degenerative spine conditions can be asymptomatic but may present as back pain, leg pain, or both. Back pain is common, affecting over 80% of the population at some point. Many cases resolve with the passage of time, early rehabilitation and physiotherapy. Leg pain can either be referred, stenotic or radiculopathic in nature. Serious causes should be detected with the use of ‘red flags’ and surgery reserved for only the most severe cases that have not responded to conservative measures. The clinical features, investigations and management of the common degenerative spine pathologies are discussed here.
ISSN:0263-9319
1878-1764
DOI:10.1016/j.mpsur.2015.04.002