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Aetiology by age at presentation

Authoring team

A probable aetiology of back pain can be classified according to the patient’s age (1):

  • 15-30 years:
    • postural
    • mechanical
    • prolapsed disc
    • trauma
    • fracture
    • ankylosing spondylitis
    • pregnancy
  • 30-50 years:
    • postural
    • degenerative joint disease
    • prolapsed disc
    • discitis
    • spondyloartropathies
  • >50 years:
    • postural
    • degenerative
    • osteoporotic collapse
    • Paget’s disease
    • metastatic malignancy:
      • lung
      • breast
      • prostate
    • myeloma
    • referred pain:
      • cardiac pain
      • aortic aneurysm
      • pancreatitis
    • spinal stenosis
    • cauda equina tumors
    • spinal infarction
  • non-specific back pain is common in all age groups

Reference:

1. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) 2009. Low back pain – Early management of non-specific low back pain

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