Abstract: Background and objectives: Low back pain has been a major public health burden for many years, generating substantial work disability and healthcare costs. A widely accepted definition of low back pain is pain, stiffness or muscle tension in the lower back, below the costal margin and above the inferior gluteal folds with or without leg pain. Clinical symptomatology of these patients varies widely with imaging findings.
Materials and Methods: Study Design-Observational study.
The study was conducted in Orthopaedic department of P.B.M. Hospital attached to S.P. Medical College, Bikaner. In our study we included 25 consecutive patients with duration of low back pain for 1 month who were not responding to conservative OPD treatment, and also had no reason to suspect any underlying organic disease. Each patient was analyzed on the basis of history, disability questionnaire and physical examination.
Exclusion criteria
1. Any organic musculoskeletal disorder
2. Any neurological disorder
3. Any manifest spinal deformity
Inclusion Criteria: All adult patients of either sex with non specific low back pain of one month duration.
Results: In this study, 60% of patients belong to 3rd and 4th decade. Majority of patients were house wives (36%) followed by labourers (28%). Average disability score was- 511/25 =20.44 and average% disability score was =52.68%. In our study 44% patients had moderate to severe disability, while only 4% patients had extreme degree of disability. 24% of patients had lumbar scoliosis, in which majority had concavity towards right side. 56% patients had reduced lumbar lordosis. Majority of patients 72% showed mild to moderate grade of tenderness. Majority of patients 56% had moderate restriction of flexion. 44% patients had moderate to severe degree of restriction of extension. 52% patients had mild degree of restriction restrictions of bending ROM. 24% of patients showed significantly positive SLR test. Only 8% of patients had positive Lasegue’s test.
Conclusion: Patients problems and complaints asked in a regular history taking tend to be more descriptive than to the point. Instead the questionnaires are more specific and time saving. A back pain questionnaire should be designed and framed according to the life style of the patient. Clinical examination is then an important tool for assessment of patients especially to support and exclude destructive and compressive lesions and also neurological diseases. Patients having significant symptoms and definite findings but normal looking X rays, need further imaging studies in the form of MRI and CT scan.
