An Evidence-Based Approach to the Evaluation and Treatment of Low

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

An Evidence-Based Approach to the Evaluation and Treatment of Low July 2013 An Evidence-Based Approach Volume 15, Number 7 To The Evaluation And Author Pierre Borczuk, MD Assistant Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate in Treatment Of Low Back Pain In Emergency Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Peer Reviewers The Emergency Department Boyd D. Burns, DO, FACEP Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine, Vice Chair of Academic Affairs and Residency Director, University of Oklahoma School of Abstract Community Medicine, Tulsa, OK Gregory L. Henry, MD, FACEP Clinical Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Low back pain is the most common musculoskeletal complaint Michigan Medical School; CEO, Medical Practice Risk Assessment, that results in a visit to the emergency department, and it is 1 Inc., Ann Arbor, MI of the top 5 most common complaints in emergency medicine. CME Objectives Estimates of annual healthcare expenditures for low back pain in Upon completion of this article, you should be able to: the United States exceed $90 billion annually, not even taking lost 1. Develop an approach to the evaluation of patients with low back pain to differentiate patients who are likely to have benign productivity and business costs into account. This review explores causes of pain from those who will need a medical workup and/ an evidence-based rationale for the evaluation of the patient with or imaging studies. low back pain, and it provides guidance on risk stratification 2. Recognize the red flag signs and symptoms in patients with low pertaining to laboratory assessment and radiologic imaging in the back pain. 3. Assess the neuroanatomy of the lower spine and nerve roots and emergency department. Published guidelines from the American correlate with specific findings on the neurologic examination. College of Physicians and American Pain Society are reviewed, 4. Evaluate the strength of data behind recommendations with emphasis on best evidence for pharmacologic treatments, for treatments for low back pain and identify those that are evidence-based. self-care interventions, and more invasive procedures and surgery in management of low back pain. Utilizing effective and proven Prior to beginning this activity, see the back page for faculty strategies will avoid medical errors, provide better care for pa- disclosures and CME accreditation information tients, and help manage healthcare resources and costs. Editor-In-Chief Nicholas Genes, MD, PhD Keith A. Marill, MD Corey M. Slovis, MD, FACP, FACEP Research Editor Andy Jagoda, MD, FACEP Assistant Professor, Department of Assistant Professor, Harvard Medical Professor and Chair, Department Michael Guthrie, MD Professor and Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine, Icahn School School; Emergency Department of Emergency Medicine, Vanderbilt Emergency Medicine Residency, Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New Attending Physician, Massachusetts University Medical Center; Medical Icahn School of Medicine at Mount of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Medical York, NY General Hospital, Boston, MA Director, Nashville Fire Department and Sinai, New York, NY International Airport, Nashville, TN Director, Mount Sinai Hospital, New Michael A. Gibbs, MD, FACEP Charles V. Pollack, Jr., MA, MD, York, NY Professor and Chair, Department FACEP Stephen H. Thomas, MD, MPH International Editors of Emergency Medicine, Carolinas Chairman, Department of Emergency George Kaiser Family Foundation Peter Cameron, MD Associate Editor-In-Chief Medical Center, University of North Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, Professor & Chair, Department of Academic Director, The Alfred Kaushal Shah, MD, FACEP Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel University of Pennsylvania Health Emergency Medicine, University of Emergency and Trauma Centre, Associate Professor, Department of Hill, NC System, Philadelphia, PA Oklahoma School of Community Monash University, Melbourne, Emergency Medicine, Icahn School Steven A. Godwin, MD, FACEP Michael S. Radeos, MD, MPH Medicine, Tulsa, OK Australia of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New Professor and Chair, Department Assistant Professor of Emergency York, NY Ron M. Walls, MD Giorgio Carbone, MD of Emergency Medicine, Assistant Medicine, Weill Medical College Professor and Chair, Department of Chief, Department of Emergency Editorial Board Dean, Simulation Education, of Cornell University, New York; Emergency Medicine, Brigham and Medicine Ospedale Gradenigo, University of Florida COM- Research Director, Department of Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical Torino, Italy William J. Brady, MD Jacksonville, Jacksonville, FL Emergency Medicine, New York School, Boston, MA Professor of Emergency Medicine Hospital Queens, Flushing, New York Amin Antoine Kazzi, MD, FAAEM and Medicine, Chair, Medical Gregory L. Henry, MD, FACEP Scott D. Weingart, MD, FCCM Associate Professor and Vice Chair, Emergency Response Committee, Clinical Professor, Department of Robert L. Rogers, MD, FACEP, Associate Professor of Emergency Department of Emergency Medicine, Medical Director, Emergency Emergency Medicine, University FAAEM, FACP Medicine, Director, Division of University of California, Irvine; Management, University of Virginia of Michigan Medical School; CEO, Assistant Professor of Emergency ED Critical Care, Icahn School of American University, Beirut, Lebanon Medical Center, Charlottesville, VA Medical Practice Risk Assessment, Medicine, The University of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New Inc., Ann Arbor, MI Maryland School of Medicine, York, NY Hugo Peralta, MD Peter DeBlieux, MD Baltimore, MD Chair of Emergency Services, Professor of Clinical Medicine, John M. Howell, MD, FACEP Senior Research Editors Hospital Italiano, Buenos Aires, Interim Public Hospital Director Clinical Professor of Emergency Alfred Sacchetti, MD, FACEP Argentina of Emergency Medicine Services, Medicine, George Washington Assistant Clinical Professor, James Damilini, PharmD, BCPS Dhanadol Rojanasarntikul, MD Emergency Medicine Director of University, Washington, DC; Director Department of Emergency Medicine, Clinical Pharmacist, Emergency Attending Physician, Emergency Faculty and Resident Development, of Academic Affairs, Best Practices, Thomas Jefferson University, Room, St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medicine, King Chulalongkorn Louisiana State University Health Inc, Inova Fairfax Hospital, Falls Philadelphia, PA Medical Center, Phoenix, AZ Memorial Hospital, Thai Red Cross, Science Center, New Orleans, LA Church, VA Robert Schiller, MD Joseph D. Toscano, MD Thailand; Faculty of Medicine, Francis M. Fesmire, MD, FACEP Shkelzen Hoxhaj, MD, MPH, MBA Senior Faculty, Family Medicine and Chairman, Department of Emergency Chulalongkorn University, Thailand Professor and Director of Clinical Chief of Emergency Medicine, Baylor Community Health, Icahn School of Medicine, San Ramon Regional Suzanne Peeters, MD Research, Department of Emergency College of Medicine, Houston, TX Medicine at Mount Sinai, New Medical Center, San Ramon, CA Emergency Medicine Residency Medicine, UT College of Medicine, York, NY Eric Legome, MD Director, Haga Hospital, The Hague, Chattanooga; Director of Chest Pain Chief of Emergency Medicine, Scott Silvers, MD, FACEP The Netherlands Center, Erlanger Medical Center, King’s County Hospital; Professor of Chair, Department of Emergency Chattanooga, TN Clinical Emergency Medicine, SUNY Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, FL Downstate College of Medicine, Brooklyn, NY Case Presentations many elements that constitute how humans feel and interpret pain. Interspersed between the patients A 45-year-old man presents after 7 days of pain in his with musculoskeletal back pain are patients with lower back. He reports that it began the day after he started back pain who are at risk for permanent neurologic at a new job site. The pain initially improved with ibupro- or even life-threatening sequela because they are fen, but he woke up this morning with a severe exacerba- harboring lesions that require timely diagnosis and tion of the pain. He denies a fall or other trauma, and he treatment. By utilizing a focused approach, the ED states that the pain radiates from his left buttock to his left clinician will be able to identify these “red flag” foot. He has had intermittent back pains in the past, but he symptoms in patients and initiate a workup. This is- never required any imaging or interventions. Employed in sue of Emergency Medicine Practice reviews the prog- the construction industry, he has a history of hypertension ress to date on developing a standardized, focused and is going through a divorce. He is afebrile, has a benign approach and guides the clinician to rationally and abdominal exam, and displays an antalgic gait. He has cost-effectively evaluate the patient presenting with intact patella and Achilles reflexes, and he has a positive left low back pain symptoms. straight-leg raise sign and crossed straight-leg raise sign. Strength and sensation, including the perineum, are intact Critical Appraisal Of The Literature and symmetrical. The patient insists that he needs an MRI and requests a note for 2 weeks off from work... The study of low back pain is plagued by the fact that As you are considering your first patient’s requests, a it is not a single pathologic entity. In addition, pain 27-year-old woman is placed in the next room, also com- is a subjective complaint that can be measured only plaining of lower back pain. You review her past visits and indirectly, and these measurements are influenced by see that she has been to the
Recommended publications
  • Lower Back Pain in Athletes EXPERT CONSULTANTS: Timothy Hosea, MD, Monica Arnold, DO
    SPORTS TIP Lower Back Pain in Athletes EXPERT CONSULTANTS: Timothy Hosea, MD, Monica Arnold, DO How common is low back pain? What structures of the back Low back pain is a very common can cause pain? problem in industrialized countries, Low back pain can come from all the affecting over 70 percent of the working spinal structures. The bony elements population. Back pain is also common of the spine can develop stress fractures, in such sports as football, soccer, or in the older athlete, arthritic changes golf, rowing, and gymnastics. which may pinch the nerve roots. The annulus has a large number of pain What are the structures fibers, and any injury to this structure, of the back? such as a sprain, bulging disc, or disc The spine is composed of three regions herniation will result in pain. Finally, the from your neck to the lower back. surrounding muscles and ligaments may The cervical region corresponds also suffer an injury, leading to pain. to your neck, the thoracic region is the mid-back (or back of the chest), How is the lower back injured? and the lumbar area is the lower back. Injuries to the lower back can be the The lumbar area provides the most result of improper conditioning and motion and works the hardest in warm-up, repetitive loading patterns, supporting your weight, and enables excessive sudden loads, and twisting you to bend, twist, and lift. activities. Proper body mechanics and flexibility are essential for all activities. Each area of the spine is composed To prevent injury, it is important to learn of stacked bony vertebral bodies with the proper technique in any sporting interposed cushioning pads called discs.
    [Show full text]
  • Guidline for the Evidence-Informed Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain
    Guideline for the Evidence-Informed Primary Care Management of Low Back Pain 2nd Edition These recommendations are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances. They should be used as an adjunct to sound clinical decision making. Guideline Disease/Condition(s) Targeted Specifications Acute and sub-acute low back pain Chronic low back pain Acute and sub-acute sciatica/radiculopathy Chronic sciatica/radiculopathy Category Prevention Diagnosis Evaluation Management Treatment Intended Users Primary health care providers, for example: family physicians, osteopathic physicians, chiro- practors, physical therapists, occupational therapists, nurses, pharmacists, psychologists. Purpose To help Alberta clinicians make evidence-informed decisions about care of patients with non- specific low back pain. Objectives • To increase the use of evidence-informed conservative approaches to the prevention, assessment, diagnosis, and treatment in primary care patients with low back pain • To promote appropriate specialist referrals and use of diagnostic tests in patients with low back pain • To encourage patients to engage in appropriate self-care activities Target Population Adult patients 18 years or older in primary care settings. Exclusions: pregnant women; patients under the age of 18 years; diagnosis or treatment of specific causes of low back pain such as: inpatient treatments (surgical treatments); referred pain (from abdomen, kidney, ovary, pelvis,
    [Show full text]
  • Anesthetic Or Corticosteroid Injections for Low Back Pain
    Anesthetic or Corticosteroid Injections for Low Back Pain Examples Trigger point injections. Sometimes, putting pressure on a certain spot in the back (called a trigger point) can cause pain at that spot or extending to another area of the body, such as the hip or leg. To try to relieve pain, a local anesthetic, either alone or combined with a corticosteroid, is injected into the area of the back that triggers pain (trigger point injection). Facet joint injections. A local anesthetic or corticosteroid is injected into a facet joint, which is one of the points where one vertebra connects to another. Epidural injections. A corticosteroid is injected into the spinal canal where it bathes the sheath that surrounds the spinal cord and nerve roots. These injections can be done by an orthopedist, an anesthesiologist, a neurologist, a physiatrist, a pain management specialist, or a rheumatologist. How It Works Local anesthesia is believed to break the cycle of pain that can cause you to become less physically active. Muscles that are not being exercised are more easily injured. Then the irritated and injured muscles can cause more pain and spasm and can disrupt sleep. This pain, spasm, and fatigue, in turn, can lead to less and less activity. Steroids reduce inflammation. So a corticosteroid injected into the spinal canal can help relieve pressure on nerves and nerve roots. Why It Is Used Injections may be tried if you have symptoms of nerve root compression or facet inflammation and you do not respond to nonsurgical therapy after 6 weeks. How Well It Works Research has not shown that local injections are effective in controlling low back pain that does not spread down the leg.footnote1 Side Effects All medicines have side effects.
    [Show full text]
  • Mechanical Low Back Pain Joshua Scott Will, DO; ​David C
    Mechanical Low Back Pain Joshua Scott Will, DO; David C. Bury, DO; and John A. Miller, DPT Martin Army Community Hospital, Fort Benning, Georgia Low back pain is usually nonspecific or mechanical. Mechanical low back pain arises intrinsically from the spine, interverte- bral disks, or surrounding soft tissues. Clinical clues, or red flags, may help identify cases of nonmechanical low back pain and prompt further evaluation or imaging. Red flags include progressive motor or sensory loss, new urinary retention or overflow incontinence, history of cancer, recent invasive spinal procedure, and significant trauma relative to age. Imaging on initial presentation should be reserved for when there is suspicion for cauda equina syndrome, malignancy, fracture, or infection. Plain radiography of the lumbar spine is appropriate to assess for fracture and bony abnormality, whereas magnetic resonance imaging is better for identifying the source of neurologic or soft tissue abnormalities. There are multiple treatment modalities for mechanical low back pain, but strong evidence of benefit is often lacking. Moderate evidence supports the use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids, and topiramate in the short-term treatment of mechanical low back pain. There is little or no evidence of benefit for acetamin- ophen, antidepressants (except duloxetine), skeletal muscle relaxants, lidocaine patches, and transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation in the treatment of chronic low back pain. There is strong evidence for short-term effectiveness and moderate-quality evidence for long-term effectiveness of yoga in the treatment of chronic low back pain. Various spinal manipulative techniques (osteopathic manipulative treatment, spinal manipulative therapy) have shown mixed benefits in the acute and chronic setting.
    [Show full text]
  • Diagnosis and Treatment of Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy
    Y Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy | NASS Clinical Guidelines 1 G Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines for Multidisciplinary ETHODOLO Spine Care M NE I DEL I U /G ON Diagnosis and Treatment of I NTRODUCT Lumbar Disc I Herniation with Radiculopathy NASS Evidence-Based Clinical Guidelines Committee D. Scott Kreiner, MD Paul Dougherty, II, DC Committee Chair, Natural History Chair Robert Fernand, MD Gary Ghiselli, MD Steven Hwang, MD Amgad S. Hanna, MD Diagnosis/Imaging Chair Tim Lamer, MD Anthony J. Lisi, DC John Easa, MD Daniel J. Mazanec, MD Medical/Interventional Treatment Chair Richard J. Meagher, MD Robert C. Nucci, MD Daniel K .Resnick, MD Rakesh D. Patel, MD Surgical Treatment Chair Jonathan N. Sembrano, MD Anil K. Sharma, MD Jamie Baisden, MD Jeffrey T. Summers, MD Shay Bess, MD Christopher K. Taleghani, MD Charles H. Cho, MD, MBA William L. Tontz, Jr., MD Michael J. DePalma, MD John F. Toton, MD This clinical guideline should not be construed as including all proper methods of care or excluding or other acceptable methods of care reason- ably directed to obtaining the same results. The ultimate judgment regarding any specific procedure or treatment is to be made by the physi- cian and patient in light of all circumstances presented by the patient and the needs and resources particular to the locality or institution. I NTRODUCT 2 Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy | NASS Clinical Guidelines I ON Financial Statement This clinical guideline was developed and funded in its entirety by the North American Spine Society (NASS). All participating /G authors have disclosed potential conflicts of interest consistent with NASS’ disclosure policy.
    [Show full text]
  • Pain Management Injection Therapies for Low-Back Pain: Topic Refinement
    Final Topic Refinement Document Pain Management Injection Therapies for Low back Pain – Project ID ESIB0813 Date: 9/19/14 Topic: Pain Management Injection Therapies for Low-back Pain Evidence-based Practice Center: Pacific Northwest Evidence-based Practice Center Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Task Order Officer: Kim Wittenberg Partner: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 1 Final Topic Refinement Document Pain Management Injection Therapies for Low back Pain – Project ID ESIB0813 Final Topic Refinement Document Key Questions Key Question 1. In patients with low back pain, what characteristics predict responsiveness to injection therapies on outcomes related to pain, function, and quality of life? Key Question 2. In patients with low back pain, what is the effectiveness of epidural corticosteroid injections, facet joint corticosteroid injections, medial branch blocks, and sacroiliac joint corticosteroid injections versus epidural nonsteroid injection, nonepidural injection, no injection, surgery or non-surgical therapies on outcomes related to pain, function and quality of life? Key Question 2a. How does effectiveness vary according to the medication used (corticosteroid, local anesthetic, or both), the dose or frequency of injections, the number of levels treated, or degree of provider experience? Key Question 2b. In patients undergoing epidural corticosteroid injection, how does effectiveness vary according to use of imaging guidance or route of administration (interlaminar, transforaminal, caudal, or other)? Key Question 3. In randomized trials of low back pain injection therapies, what is the response rate to different types of control therapies (e.g., epidural nonsteroid injection, nonepidural injection, no injection, surgery, or non-surgical therapies)? Key Question 3a. How do response rates vary according to the specific comparator evaluated (e.g., saline epidural, epidural with local anesthetic, nonepidural injection, no injection, surgery, non-surgical therapies)? Key Question 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Acute Low Back Pain
    Acute low back pain Key reviewers: Mr Chris Hoffman, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Mana Orthopaedics, Wellington Dr John MacVicar, Medical Director, Southern Rehab, Christchurch Key concepts: ■ Acute low back pain is common and most patients will recover fully within three months ■ Serious causes are rare and can be excluded with careful history and examination ■ Radiological studies are not required for acute low back pain in the absence of red flags ■ An exact diagnosis is often not possible, nor needed for management ■ Patients’ beliefs and attitudes warrant as much attention as the anatomical and pathological aspects of their condition ■ Fear about pain is a major determinant of disability and possible chronicity ■ Management should include reassurance, education and helping the patient stay active ■ Adequate analgesia is important to allow the patient www.bpac.org.nz keyword: lowbackpain to stay active 6 | BPJ | Issue 21 Acute low back pain is common and often relapsing Red Flags: ▪ Trauma Low back pain is discomfort, muscle tension or stiffness ▪ Unrelenting pain, or pain worse at night localised to the area around the lumbar spine. Back pain (supine) may radiate to the groin, buttocks or legs as referred somatic pain and may be associated with lumbar radicular ▪ Age <20 years, or new back pain age >50 pain such as sciatica. years ▪ History of cancer In any given year approximately one third of adults will ▪ Systemic symptoms suffer from low back pain and one third of these will seek help from a health practitioner.1 Most people with low ▪ IV drug use back pain self-treat with over-the-counter medications and ▪ Immunosuppression or steroids lifestyle changes.2 ▪ Widespread or progressive neurological deficit Low back pain is described as acute if present for less than six weeks, sub-acute between six weeks and three Serious causes of acute low back pain are rare months, and chronic if it continues for longer than three and include:6 months.
    [Show full text]
  • UW Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Elective
    UW Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Elective Educational Objectives: • To become proficient at advanced point of care emergency ultrasound by: o Becoming proficient with image acquisition o Becoming proficient with image interpretation o Becoming more proficient at incorporation of ultrasound into clinical practice Rotation Goals: • Master skills of image acquisition and image interpretation for all 11 ACEP point of care emergency ultrasound indications (Trauma/FAST, ocular, biliary, renal, aorta, cardiac, thoracic, DVT, MSK, intrauterine pregnancy, procedural guidance) • Review and become familiar with current body of point of care ultrasound literature – the resident should critically review 5 recent journal articles involving ultrasound in clinical practice and discuss them with the ultrasound director • Understand how to incorporate point of care emergency ultrasound into clinical practice • Practice bedside ultrasound teaching skills with medical students currently rotating in the department • Focus particularly on advanced point of care ultrasound applications, including dedicated musculoskeletal, cardiopulmonary, and endovaginal sonography • Prepare a lecture for didactic conference on an advanced point of care ultrasound case of the month topic of your choosing with the assistance of the ultrasound director Clinical Experience: Time will be spent largely in performing ultrasounds in the emergency department. Plan to spend at least 5 hours per day on average, five days per week in the emergency department performing bedside point-of-care ultrasounds. All training exams must be performed under direct supervision of an ultrasound credentialed faculty or with a confirmatory study. The resident will focus on completing the ACEP’s credentialing requirement of 25 exams per indication (for all 11 indications, this is a total of 275 exams).
    [Show full text]
  • Lumbar Degenerative Disease Part 1
    International Journal of Molecular Sciences Article Lumbar Degenerative Disease Part 1: Anatomy and Pathophysiology of Intervertebral Discogenic Pain and Radiofrequency Ablation of Basivertebral and Sinuvertebral Nerve Treatment for Chronic Discogenic Back Pain: A Prospective Case Series and Review of Literature 1, , 1,2, 1 Hyeun Sung Kim y * , Pang Hung Wu y and Il-Tae Jang 1 Nanoori Gangnam Hospital, Seoul, Spine Surgery, Seoul 06048, Korea; [email protected] (P.H.W.); [email protected] (I.-T.J.) 2 National University Health Systems, Juronghealth Campus, Orthopaedic Surgery, Singapore 609606, Singapore * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +82-2-6003-9767; Fax.: +82-2-3445-9755 These authors contributed equally to this work. y Received: 31 January 2020; Accepted: 20 February 2020; Published: 21 February 2020 Abstract: Degenerative disc disease is a leading cause of chronic back pain in the aging population in the world. Sinuvertebral nerve and basivertebral nerve are postulated to be associated with the pain pathway as a result of neurotization. Our goal is to perform a prospective study using radiofrequency ablation on sinuvertebral nerve and basivertebral nerve; evaluating its short and long term effect on pain score, disability score and patients’ outcome. A review in literature is done on the pathoanatomy, pathophysiology and pain generation pathway in degenerative disc disease and chronic back pain. 30 patients with 38 levels of intervertebral disc presented with discogenic back pain with bulging degenerative intervertebral disc or spinal stenosis underwent Uniportal Full Endoscopic Radiofrequency Ablation application through either Transforaminal or Interlaminar Endoscopic Approaches. Their preoperative characteristics are recorded and prospective data was collected for Visualized Analogue Scale, Oswestry Disability Index and MacNab Criteria for pain were evaluated.
    [Show full text]
  • The Global Spine Care Initiative: a Summary of the Global Burden of Low Back and Neck Pain Studies
    European Spine Journal https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-017-5432-9 REVIEW The Global Spine Care Initiative: a summary of the global burden of low back and neck pain studies Eric L. Hurwitz1 · Kristi Randhawa2,3 · Hainan Yu2,3 · Pierre Côté2,3 · Scott Haldeman4,5,6 Received: 9 July 2017 / Accepted: 16 December 2017 © Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2018 Abstract Purpose This article summarizes relevant fndings related to low back and neck pain from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) reports for the purpose of informing the Global Spine Care Initiative. Methods We reviewed and summarized back and neck pain burden data from two studies that were published in Lancet in 2016, namely: “Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 310 diseases and injuries, 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015” and “Global, regional, and national disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for 315 diseases and injuries and healthy life expectancy (HALE), 1990–2015: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015.” Results In 2015, low back and neck pain were ranked the fourth leading cause of disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally just after ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and lower respiratory infection {low back and neck pain DALYs [thousands]: 94 941.5 [95% uncertainty interval (UI) 67 745.5–128 118.6]}. In 2015, over half a billion people worldwide had low back pain and more than a third of a billion had neck pain of more than 3 months duration.
    [Show full text]
  • Overall Program Goals & Objectives
    Queen’s University Emergency Medicine Resident Handbook Overall Curriculum Goals and Objectives MEDICAL EXPERT ......................................................................................................... 2 ADMINISTRATION ........................................................................................................ 3 ANAESTHESIA ................................................................................................................ 4 COMMUNICATION SKILLS ......................................................................................... 5 CRITICAL CARE MEDICINE ....................................................................................... 6 DISASTER MEDICINE .................................................................................................. 7 ENVIRONMENTAL ILLNESS ....................................................................................... 8 eHEALTH AND TECHNOLOGY ................................................................................. 10 ETHICS AND THE LAW ............................................................................................. 11 GENDER AND CULTURAL ISSUES ........................................................................ 12 INTERNAL MEDICINE SPECIALTIES .................................................................... 13 Cardiology ......................................................................................................... 13 Endocrinology .................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Chronic Low Back Pain (PDF 126KB)
    Comparison of Percutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation with Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation for Long- Term Pain Relief in Patients with Chronic Low Back Pain Masataka Yokoyama, MD, Xiaohui Sun, MD, Satoru Oku, MD, Naoyuki Taga, MD, Kenji Sato, MD, Satoshi Mizobuchi, MD, Toru Takahashi, MD, and Kiyoshi Morita, MD Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama City, Japan The long-term effect of percutaneous electrical nerve mo after the sessions. During PENS therapy, the pain stimulation (PENS) on chronic low back pain (LBP) is level decreased significantly from Week 2 in Groups A unclear. We evaluated the number of sessions for which andB(P Ͻ 0.05 or 0.01), and physical impairment and PENS should be performed to alleviate chronic LBP and required NSAIDs decreased significantly from Week 4 how long analgesia is sustained. Patients underwent (P Ͻ 0.05 or 0.01) in Group A but only at Week 4 in treatment on a twice-weekly schedule for 8 wk. Group Group B (P Ͻ 0.05 or 0.01). These effects were sustained A(n ϭ 18) received PENS for 8 wk, group B (n ϭ 17) until 1-mo follow-up (P Ͻ 0.01) in Group A but not in received PENS for the first 4 wk and transcutaneous Group B; these effects were not observed at 2-mo electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) for the second 4 wk, follow-up even in Group A. In Group C, pain level de- and group C (n ϭ 18) received TENS for 8 wk. Pain creased significantly only at Week 8 (P Ͻ 0.05).
    [Show full text]