Diagnostic Tests for Low Back Disorders

Objective: The aim of this study was to summarize evidence-based diagnostic guidelines for low back disorders. Methods: A comprehensive literature review was conducted. A total of 101 articles of high or moderate quality addressing low back disorders diagnostic evaluation met the inclusion criteria. Evidence-based recommendations were developed and graded from (A) to (C) in favor and against the specific diagnostic test, with (A) level having the highest quality body of literature. Expert consensus was employed for insufficient evidence (I) to develop consensus guidance. Results: Recommendations are given for these diagnostic tests: functional capacity evaluations, roentgenograms (x-rays), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography, myelography, bone scans, single proton emission computed tomography, electromyography, surface electromyography, ultrasound, thermography, fluoroscopy, videofluoroscopy, lumbar discography, MRI discography, and myeloscopy. Conclusion: Diagnostic testing is not indicated for the majority of patients with low back pain.

• Publication year

  2019

• Venue

  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

• Publication date

  2019-04-01

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1097/JOM.0000000000001551PMID 30694882
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

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