ABSTRACT
Most patients with back pain have a benign condition, but tumors, infections, and fractures must be considered during an initial evaluation because overlooking them can have serious consequences. This article discusses the presentation and diagnostic strategies of these serious causes of back pain.
- Copyright © 2008 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.
- Krzysztof Siemionow, MD,
- Michael Steinmetz, MD,
- Gordon Bell, MD,
- Hakan Ilaslan, MD and
- Robert F. McLain, MD⇑
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Cleveland Clinic
- Department of Neurosurgery, and Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, Cleveland Clinic
- Vice-Chairman, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, and Associate Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, Cleveland Clinic
- Department of Radiology, Cleveland Clinic
- Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University
- Director of Spine Fellowship Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, Cleveland Clinic
- ADDRESS:
Robert F. McLain, MD, Cleveland Clinic Center for Spine Health, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, A41, Cleveland Clinic, 9500 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44195; e-mail mclainr{at}ccf.org.
ABSTRACT
Most patients with back pain have a benign condition, but tumors, infections, and fractures must be considered during an initial evaluation because overlooking them can have serious consequences. This article discusses the presentation and diagnostic strategies of these serious causes of back pain.
- Copyright © 2008 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved.