Back Pain Back Pain Diagnosis and Assessment 2

Question 1

What is the diagnostic term for back pain with no identifiable structural cause?

Accepted Answer

Non-specific low back pain

Answer

Non-specific low back pain accounts for approximately 85% of low back pain cases where no definitive pathoanatomical diagnosis can be identified.

Question 2

Fever, unexplained weight loss, and night pain unrelieved by rest in a back pain patient suggest which red flag condition?

Accepted Answer

Spinal infection or malignancy

Answer

Constitutional symptoms like fever, weight loss, and night pain are red flags for spinal infection (discitis/osteomyelitis) or metastatic malignancy.

Question 3

Which dermatome is associated with L5 nerve root involvement?

Accepted Answer

Big toe and dorsum of foot

Answer

The L5 dermatome covers the dorsum of the foot, big toe, and medial aspect of the lower leg; weakness of great toe extension is the key motor finding.

Question 4

The Visual Analog Scale (VAS) is primarily used to assess which component of back pain?

Accepted Answer

Pain intensity

Answer

The VAS is a 0-10 or 100mm line scale used to quantify subjective pain intensity, allowing tracking of pain over time.

Question 5

Which finding on lumbar X-ray is MOST specific for spinal instability?

Accepted Answer

Dynamic translation >4mm on flexion-extension views

Answer

Flexion-extension radiographs showing >4mm of translation between vertebrae is the key radiographic indicator of segmental instability.

Back Pain Practice Test

Back Pain Practice Test

Back Pain Back Pain Diagnosis and Assessment 2