Low Back Pain Often Persists Long After the Initial Visit

Nearly 50% of patients reported functional impairment 3 months after an emergency department visit for atraumatic low back pain.

In a prospective cohort study of 556 adults who presented to an emergency department in New York City with atraumatic musculoskeletal low back pain (originating between the lower angle of the scapula and the upper buttocks), researchers evaluated outcomes 1 week and 3 months after the visit. Patients were followed up by telephone call and were asked to rate back pain–related functional limitation on the 24-point Roland-Morris low back pain scale (a score ≤6 = mild or no impairment), severity of pain, frequency of pain, and use of analgesics within the previous 24 hours. Clinically significant symptom improvement was defined as a decrease in the Roland-Morris score >5 points.

One week after the ED visit, 70% of patients reported more than mil…

Reviewing Author

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose

Richard D. Zane, MD, FAAEM

Disclosures

Nothing to disclose