Author: Don Stader M.D.

Educational Pearls:

• Non-traumatic back pain is a very common complaint in the Emergency Department.
• Conditions that can manifest with back pain include: ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, retroperitoneal bleeding, cauda equina syndrome, epidural abscess or cancer.
• Patients with cauda equina syndrome or epidural abscess prefer to sit forward, while people with disc issues tend to sit upright.

References: https://emergencymedicinecases.com/episode-26-low-back-pain-emergencies/