Core Questions

1. List key historical red flags in a patient presenting with back pain. (Box 32.1) 
2. List red flags on physical examination of a patient with back pain. (Box 32.1) 
3. List key critical differential diagnoses for a patient presenting with acute back pain (Box 32.2)
4. Describe an approach to the rapid assessment of a patient with acute lower back pain (Fig 32.1) 
5. Describe an approach to ancillary testing and imaging for critical causes of acute back pain (table 32.1) 
6. List the sensory, motor, and screening tests for the lumbar nerve roots L3-S1 (table 32.2) 
7. Describe an overview of the management of acute low back pain (Fig 32.2) 

Wisecracks

1. What are 4 variables associated with serious outcomes in patients with back pain (p. 276) 
2. Differentiate between conus medullaris syndrome and cauda equina syndrome. 
3. What physical exam/ancillary findings are most predictive of cauda equina? (CJEM 2020;22(5):652–654) 
4. How does Rosen’s differentiate between disc herniation and radiculopathy?