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Axial Neck and Back Pain

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Principles of Orthopedic Practice for Primary Care Providers

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Abstract

Greater than 80% of all adults will experience neck or back pain debilitating enough to impair function. Obtaining a thorough history and performing a focused physical examination can typically yield an accurate diagnosis of the cause of pain. Common causes of axial spinal pain include the muscle and fascia, spinal ligaments, disc, facet joints, and sacroiliac joints. Rest, NSAIDs, and physical therapy will relieve the pain in a majority of patients. Injections can be performed for focused muscle spasms, facet or disc pain, or sacroiliac pain. Surgery is rarely performed for axial back pain and involves spinal fusion when performed.

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Abbreviations

AP:

Anteroposterior

ASIS:

Anterior-superior iliac spine

CT:

Computed tomography

FABER:

Flexion-abduction-external rotation

MRI:

Magnetic resonance imaging

SI:

Sacroiliac

SPORT:

Spine Patient Outcomes Research Trials.

PT:

Physical therapy

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA

    Jay M. Zampini

Authors
  1. Jay M. Zampini
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jay M. Zampini .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Jeffrey N. Katz

  2. Departments of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Cheri A. Blauwet

  3. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

    Andrew J. Schoenfeld

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Zampini, J.M. (2018). Axial Neck and Back Pain. In: Katz, J., Blauwet, C., Schoenfeld, A. (eds) Principles of Orthopedic Practice for Primary Care Providers. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68661-5_1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-68661-5_1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-68660-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-68661-5

  • eBook Packages: MedicineMedicine (R0)

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