Sometime back,
I had mentioned a few circumstances under which X-rays or MRI of the
spine may be necessary. These were :
1. Patients, who are less than 16 years old or more than 50 years
old.
2. Patients, who complain of morning stiffness associated with pain
locally, and this pain improves with exercise and walking.
3. Patients having continuous pain.
4. Patients having history of accident or injury.
5. Patients, who complain of fever or weight loss.
6. Patients having anaemia or low haemoglobin (specially males).
7. Patients having an elevated ESR.
I am writing this article to stress three more important circumstances,
where imaging/X-rays must be done. They are :-
1. Patients having thoracic backache.
2. Patients complaining of pain in the spine during sleep. In such
patients the backache is usually due to some pathology and not the
usual wear and tear.
3. Lastly, in patients in whom backache has persisted for more than
one month.
Reference
1. OP Kapoor, BH Journal 2003; 45 (2) : 347.
Ex. Hon. Physician, Jaslok Hospital and Bombay Hospital,
Mumbai, Ex. Hon. Prof. of Medicine, Grant Medical College and JJ Hospital,
Mumbai 400 008.
