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. 2025;85(1):112-125.

[Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with low back pain treated in a hospital]

[Article in Spanish]
Carla Coca Carrasco  1 , Daniela Pedrón  2 , Magalí Crucci  3 , Enrique Romero Leiva  2 , Agostina Pellegrino  2 , Diego F Baenas  4   5 , Elisa B Novatti  4   5 , Pehuén Fernández  5   6 , Emanuel J Saad  7   5
Affiliations
  • PMID: 39900055
Free article

[Clinical and radiological characteristics of patients with low back pain treated in a hospital]

[Article in Spanish]
Carla Coca Carrasco et al. Medicina (B Aires). 2025.
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Introduction: Low back pain is one of the main causes of medical consultation worldwide, with heterogeneous management in the request for complementary methods. This study sought to determine the frequency and clinical and imaging characteristics of patients with low back pain in a tertiary hospital, considering the presence or absence of red flags.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analytical study was carried out at the Private University Hospital of Córdoba. Patients over 18 years of age who consulted for the first time for low back pain between January and June 2021 were included, excluding pregnant and those without complete records.

Results: A total of 880 patients were included. Of these, 589 (67%) presented acute low back pain, 112 (13%) subacute and 179 (20%) chronic. Simple low back pain was the most common cause (n=652, 74%), followed by herniated disc (n=179, 20%) and spondylolisthesis (n=33, 4%). Red flags were identified in 190 (22%) patients according to American College of Radiology (ACR) criteria and in 420 (48%) according to the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). Imaging studies were performed in 314 (75%) patients with AHCPR criteria and 255 (55%) with ACR criteria. Neoplasia/infection and vertebral fracture were diagnosed in 2 (2%) and 5 (9%) patients with red flags, respectively.

Discussion: The first consultation for low back pain represented 1.8% of consultations, with acute low back pain being more frequent. Obesity was the most common comorbidity. About half of the patients had red flags according to AHCPR and 21% according to ACR.

Introducción: La lumbalgia es una de las principales causas de consulta médica a nivel mundial, con un manejo heterogéneo en la solicitud de métodos complementarios. Este estudio buscódeterminar la frecuencia y características clínicas e imagenológicas de los pacientes con lumbalgia en un hospital de tercer nivel, considerando la presencia o ausencia de signos de alerta o banderas rojas. Meteriales y métodos: Se realizóun estudio analítico retrospectivo en el Hospital Privado Universitario de Córdoba. Se incluyeron pacientes mayores de 18 años que consultaron por primera vez por lumbalgia entre enero y junio de 2021, excluyendo embarazadas y aquellos sin registros completos. Resultados: Se incluyeron 880 pacientes. De éstos, 589 (67%) presentaron lumbalgia aguda, 112 (13%) subaguda y 179 (20%) crónica. La lumbalgia simple fue la causa más común (n=652, 74%), seguida de hernia discal (n=179, 20%) y espondilolistesis (n=33, 4%). Se identificaron banderas rojas en 190 (22%) pacientes según criterios del American College of Radiology (ACR) y en 420 (48%) según la Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR). Se realizaron estudios de imágenes en 314 (75%) pacientes con criterios de AHCPR y en 255 (55%) con criterios de ACR. Neoplasia/infección y fractura vertebral se diagnosticaron en 2 (2%) y 5 (9%) pacientes con banderas rojas, respectivamente. Discusión: La primera consulta por lumbalgia representóel 1.8% de las consultas, siendo más frecuente la lumbalgia aguda. La obesidad fue la comorbilidad más común. Cerca de la mitad de los pacientes tenían banderas rojas según AHCPR y el 21% según ACR.

Keywords: acute pain; low back pain; magnetic resonance imaging; tomography spiral computed.

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