Acute Low Back Pain: Risk Factors for an Important Structural Cause
History |
Pain worse at rest or at night |
Prior history of cancer |
History of chronic infection (especially lung, urinary tract, skin) |
History of trauma |
Incontinence |
Age >70 years |
Intravenous drug use |
Glucocorticoid use |
History of a rapidly progressive neurologic deficit |
Examination |
Unexplained fever |
Unexplained weight loss |
Percussion tenderness over the spine |
Abdominal, rectal, or pelvic mass |
Internal/external rotation of the leg at the hip; heel percussion sign |
Straight leg- or reverse straight leg-raising signs |
Progressive focal neurologic deficit |