Routine Imaging for Uncomplicated Acute Low Back Pain: A Low-Value Intervention
April 27,2016
Tips for Discussion of Results with Patients
- Reassure patients that the absence of “red flag” symptoms is good news and means that
their pain is likely to improve without imaging.
- Discuss the anticipated clinical course, duration of symptoms, and reasons to seek urgent
care for acute low back pain with patients at their initial visit.
- Engage patients in brief, educational discussions about low back pain. Such discussions
satisfy most patients even though they may expect routine low back imaging.
- Anticipate abnormal findings on imaging and recognize that they are often are not
related to clinical symptoms.
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The Bottom Line summaries reflect the expertise and opinions of the SGIM EBM Task Force as of the date of release of this summary.