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Neurosurgical Evaluation for Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain

  • Anesthetic Techniques in Pain Management (D Wang, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Pain and Headache Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

Chronic low back pain (CLBP) is a major cause of disability in the USA, and it affects approximately 1 in 4 Americans. CLBP patients are commonly referred to or seek out neurosurgical evaluations and opinions for treatment and management.

Recent Findings

Literature shows that only a minority of patients with CLBP may benefit from a surgical procedure. These patients that present to clinic often have been ailing for a considerable amount of time and are eager for effective treatment to alleviate pain. However, determining if a patient with CLBP is a surgical candidate is predicated upon having no success of pain relief with non-operative management. Patients with CLBP require thorough and adequate imaging, clinical exam, and diagnostic evaluation.

Summary

When adequate non-operative management was provided, and proven fruitless, the patient may be considered an operative candidate. In this manuscript, a framework is presented for workup and evaluation of patients with CLBP.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Neurological Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 909 Walnut Street, Clinical Office Building, 2nd floor, Philadelphia, PA, 19107, USA

    Daniel Franco, Aria Mahtabfar, Kevin Hines, Victor Sabourin, Anthony Stefanelli & James Harrop

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  1. Daniel Franco
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  2. Aria Mahtabfar
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  3. Kevin Hines
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  4. Victor Sabourin
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Correspondence to Daniel Franco.

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Daniel Franco, Aria Mahtabfar, Kevin Hines, Victor Sabourin, Anthony Stefanelli, and James Harrop declare no conflict of interest.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Anesthetic Techniques in Pain Management

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Franco, D., Mahtabfar, A., Hines, K. et al. Neurosurgical Evaluation for Patients with Chronic Lower Back Pain. Curr Pain Headache Rep 24, 58 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-020-00894-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11916-020-00894-4

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