Multivariable analysis of the relationship between pain referral patterns and the source of chronic low back pain.

Background: Discogenic, facet joint, and sacroiliac joint mediated axial low back pain may be associated with overlapping pain referral patterns into the lower limb. Differences between pain referral patterns for these three structures have not been systematically investigated.

Objective: To examine the individual and combined relationship of age, hip/girdle pain, leg pain, and thigh pain and the source of internal disc disruption (IDD), facet joint pain (FJP), or sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP) in consecutive chronic low back pain (CLBP) patients.

Multivariable analyses of the relationships between age, gender, and body mass index and the source of chronic low back pain.

Objective: To examine the combined relationships between age, gender, and body mass index (BMI) and the specific source of chronic low back pain.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: University spine center.

Is the history of a surgical discectomy related to the source of chronic low back pain?

Background: Recurrent or persistent low back pain (LBP) after surgical discectomy (SD) for intervertebral disc herniation has been well documented. The source of low back pain in these patients has not been examined.

Objective: To compare the distribution of the source of chronic LBP between patients with and without a history of SD.

Etiology of chronic low back pain in patients having undergone lumbar fusion.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of lumbar internal disc disruption, zygapohyseal joint pain, sacroiliac joint pain, and soft tissue irritation by fusion hardware in post-fusion low back pain patients compared with non-fused patients utilizing diagnostic spinal procedures.

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: University spine center.

Does the location of low back pain predict its source?

Objective: To evaluate the predictive utility of the pattern of low back pain (LBP) in detecting the source of LBP as internal disk disruption (IDD), facet joint pain (FJP), or sacroiliac joint pain (SIJP).

Design: Retrospective chart review.

Setting: University spine center.