Editorial
DIAGNOSIS AND CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT OF LOW BACK PAIN: REVIEW AND GUIDELINES OF THE CROATIAN VERTEBROLOGIC SOCIETY
SIMEON GRAZIO
; University Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
BOŽIDAR ĆURKOVIĆ
; University Department of Rheumatic Diseases and Rehabilitation, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
TONKO VLAK
; University Department of Physical Medicine, Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, Split University Hospital Center, Split, Croatia
VANJA BAŠIĆ KES
; University Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
MIROSLAV JELIĆ
; Department of Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Devices, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
DANIJEL BULJAN
; Klinika za psihijatriju, KBC “Sestre milosrdnice”, Zagreb, Hrvatska
ZOJA GNJIDIĆ
; Dr Drago Čop Polyclinic for Rheumatic Diseases, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Zagreb, Croatia
TOMISLAV NEMČIĆ
; University Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
FRANE GRUBIŠIĆ
; University Department of Rheumatology, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
IGOR BORIĆ
; Sveta Katarina Special Hospital, Zabok, Croatia
NEVEN KAUZLARIĆ
; Department of Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Devices, Zagreb University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
MATEJ MUSTAPIĆ
; Department of Diagnostic and Intervention Radiology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
VIDA DEMARIN
; University Department of Neurology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
Low back pain (LBP) is a very common condition with high costs of patient care. Medical doctors of various specialties from Croatia have brought an up-to-date review and guidelines for diagnosis and conservative treatment of low back pain, which should result in the application of evidence-based care and eventually better outcomes. As LBP is a multifactorial disease, it is often not possible to identify which factors may be responsible for the onset of LBP and to what extent they aggravate the patient’s symptoms. In the diagnostic algorithm, patient’s history and clinical examination have the key role. Furthermore, most important is to classify patients into those with nonspecific back pain, LBP associated with radiculopathy (radicular syndrome) and LBP potentially associated with suspected or confirmed severe pathology. Not solely a physical problem, LBP should be considered through psychosocial factors too. In that case, early identification of patients who will develop chronic back pain will be helpful because it determines the choice of treatment. In order to make proper assessment of a patient with LBP (i.e. pain, function), we should use validated questionnaires. Useful approach to a patient with LBP is to apply the principles of content management. Generally, acute and chronic LBP cases are treated differently. Besides providing education, in patients with acute back pain, advice seems to be crucial (especially to remain active), along with the use of drugs (primarily in terms of pain control), while in some patients spinal manipulation (performed by educated professional) or/and short-term use of lumbosacral orthotic devices can also be considered. The main goal of treating patients with chronic LBP is renewal of function, even in case of persistent pain. For chronic LBP, along with education and medical treatment, therapeutic exercise, physical therapy and massage are recommended, while in patients with a high level of disability intensive multidisciplinary biopsychosocial approach has proved to be effective.
Keywords
Croatia; low back pain; guidelines; diagnosis; treatment
Hrčak ID:
104089
URI
Publication date:
20.6.2013.
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