Spinal stenosis, radicular pain, and compression fractures: causes of back pain in elderly patients

Back pain is a common symptom that can indicate serious disease, particularly in elderly patients.Separation of the serious pathologies such as malignancy, infection, and cauda equina syndrome frombenign axial back pain is a challenge. The red flags have clinical use for assisting in obtaining keyfeatures in the history and examination that may relate to sinister pathology. Knowing what and whento refer to a spinal specialist, such as an orthopaedic surgeon or neurosurgeon, is important. Spinalstenosis, radicular pain, and vertebral compression fractures of the spine may require specialist skills indiscectomy, decompression, and reconstruction. This article deals with the assessment and treatment ofspinal stenosis, radicular pain, and vertebral compression fractures.