Back pain, fever and stiffness

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Hadeel Maksoud M.D.[2]

Abbreviations: ABG = Arterial blood gases, ANA = Antinuclear antibodies, BUN = Blood urea nitrogen, CRP = C-reactive protein, CT = Computed tomography, DRA = Dual energy radiographic absorptiometry, DRE = Digital rectal exam, ERCP = Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, ESR = Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, HSV = Herpes simplex virus, IVP = Intravenous pyelography, KUB = Kidney, bladder, ureter, LDH = Lactate dehydrogenase, LFT = Liver function test, MRA = Magnetic resonance angiography, MRC = Magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, MRI = Magnetic resonance imaging, MRU = Magnetic resonance urography, NSAIDs = Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, PCR = Polymerase chain reaction, PET - FDG = Positive emission tomography - fluorodeoxyglucose, PET = Positive emission tomography, PID = Pelvic inflammatory disease, PSA = Prostatic specific antigen, PTC = Percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography, RUQ = Right upper quadrant, SPECT = Single-photon emission computed tomography, TFT = Thyroid function test, VZV = Varicella zoster virus

Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Neurological	Arachnoiditis	Acute	Hours	Dull aching pain	Head, neck and back	+/-	+	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	CSF Elevated protein with normal or low glucose Culture and sensitivity May be due to TB or Meningitis Nucleic acid tests Helpful in tuberculous meningitis	Radiography Thickened nerve roots CT Narrowing of subarachnoid space Irregular collections of contrast material Thickened nerve roots MRI Study of choice shows indistinct cord outline	Usually caused by meningitis or TB
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Bone
	Chronic recurrent focal osteomyelitis	Chronic	Years	Dull aching pain	Local	+/-	+	+	-	-	-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CBC Leukocytosis and left shift ESR Elevated CRP Elevated Procalcitonin Elevated Culture and sensitivity To identify causative agent	Radiography Demonstrates endosteal or medullary lesion Sequestration and cavity formation MRI Bone marrow abnormalities and lytic changes CT Articular and periarticular involvement Ultrasound Soft tissue abnormalities Nuclear imaging Loss of bone density	Acute presentation is often seen in children and is associated with gait abnormalities
	Sacroilitis	Acute or chronic	Variable	Dull aching or throbbing	Hips and legs	+/-	+	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	-	CBC May demonstrate leukocytosis ESR May be elevated CRP May be elevated Procalcitonin May be elevated Culture and sensitivity To identify causative agent	MRI Narrowing of joint space and low signalling indicates edema CT Detects lesions earlier than radiography, demonstrates hypodensity of joint space and destruction of articular surface Radiography Joint space narrowing with destruction of joint space Nuclear imaging Focal uptake of gallium-67 and technetium-99m in area of destruction	Most likely due to hematogenous spread of organism
	Vertebral osteomyelitis	Acute	Minutes to hours	Sudden, severe, sharp	Shoulders, arms, hips and legs	+/-	+	+/-	-	+/-	-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	+/-	-	CBC Leukocytosis and left shift ESR Elevated CRP Elevated Procalcitonin Elevated Culture and sensitivity To identify causative agent	Radiography Demonstrates endosteal or medullary lesion Sequestration and cavity formation MRI Bone marrow abnormalities and lytic changes CT Articular and periarticular involvement Ultrasound Soft tissue abnormalities Nuclear imaging Loss of bone density	Often caused by hematogenous spread of organism
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Referred pain	Myalgia	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Variable	+/-	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*Typically no specific lab findings A full workup should be done to exclude other etiologies, such as; Rheumatoid factor and/or anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibodies May indicate cause is rheumatoid arthritis CRP and ESR May be elevated CBC May indicate anemia Bone profile May be caused by a vitamin D or calcium deficiency	Typically no routine imaging done	May be associated with Hepatitis C and Lyme disease
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Tumors	Ewing's sarcoma	Chronic	Months to years	Dull aching	Variable	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	+	-	-	-	-	-	-	Tests are used to rule out other pathologies; CBC May indicate anemia Blood cultures May be positive for various organisms ESR and CRP May be elevated LDH May be elevated Cytogenetic studies May be positive for t(11;22) translocation Immunohistochemical markers May be positive for MIC2 antigen (CD99)	Radiography Periosteal reaction "onion skin" Cortical thinning Mottling MRI Skip lesions Edema Metastasis PET - FDG To identify metastatic disease
	Multiple myeloma	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Hips, groin and legs	+/-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	+/-	-	-	-	-	+/-	-	Serum protein electrophoresis May demonstrate a M peak Serum free light chain assay and 24 - hour urine collection May detect Bence-Jones proteins CRP May be elevated Serum beta2-microglobulin May be elevated Albumin May demonstrate elevated albumin in urine LDH May be elevated Peripheral blood smear May demonstrate rouleaux formation > 50% Leukopenia Thrombocytopenia	Radiography, MRI and PET Osteolytic lesions may be demonstrated	Biopsy will demonstrate elevated plasma cells in the bone marrow
Classification of pain in the back based on etiology	Diease	Clinical Manifestation																	Diagnosis		Comments
		Symptoms											Signs						Lab findings	Imaging
		Onset	Duration	Quality of pain	Radiation	Stiffness	Fever	Rigors and chills	Headache	Nausea and vomiting	Syncopy	Weight loss	Motor weakness	Sensory deficit	Pulse Deficit	Heart Murmur	Bowel or bladder dysfunction	Horner's syndrome
Miscellaneous
	Sickle cell anemia	Acute or chronic	Variable	Severe, sharp	Variable	+/-	+	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	CBC Hemoglobin level is between 5-9 g/dl Hematocrit is decreased to 17-29% Leukocytosis with predominance of neutrophils Thrombocytopenia ESR Decreased Reticulocyte count Elevated Peripheral blood smear May demonstrate target cells, elongated cells, and sickle erythrocytes Howell - Jolly bodies in an asplenic patient Hemoglobin solubility Distinguishes between sickle cell disease and sickle cell trait Hemoglobin F Percentage of Hemoglobin F is elevated LFT, renal function test and pulmonary function test To assess organ distress or failure ABG To detect oxygen saturation Urine analysis May determine an urinary tract infection with hematuria and isosthenuria Sickling test As screening for sickle hemoglobinopathies Secretory phospholipase A2 May be increased in acute chest syndrome, a complication of sickle cell disease	Radiography Osteonecrosis Dactylitis indicated by medullary expansion, cortical thinning, trabecular resorption, and bone lucency Osteomyelitis may be present and demonstrate sequestra, cortical destruction, periosteal growth and sinus formation MRI and CT In addition to findings in radiography, may detect bone marrow hyperplasia May also be useful in ruling out renal medullary carcinoma in those presenting with hematuria Nuclear imaging Used to detect early osteonecrosis through Technetium-99m bone scanning Used to detect early osteomyelitis through detection of elevation ofwhite blood cells in Indium-11 white blood cell scanning Transcranial doppler ultrasonography Abnormally high blood flow is detected in those at increased risk of stroke Abdominal ultrasound Used to exclude other pathologies such as, cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, ectopic pregnancy, nephrolithiasis, and papillary necrosis May also be used to asses the size of the liver and spleen Echocardiography Used to diagnose pulmonary hypertension based on tricuspid regurgitant jet velocity Also used to assess abnormalities of systolic and diastolic function	Sickle cell trait confers some protection against malaria
	Syringomyelia	Chronic	Years	Dull aching	Variable	+/-	+/-	-	+/-	+/-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	*Typically no specific lab findings	MRI Of choice and demonstrates a syrinx (spinal cord cyst) May also be useful in assessment of CSF flow dynamics Radiography and CT May also visualize a syrinx Gadolinium scan Useful in assessment of post-operative patients and can distinguish between a tumor, scar, and disk material Myelography Used when MRI is unfruitful, and may detect widening of spinal cord and complete subarachnoid block