Back pain in children

Abstract

Back pain in childhood, while uncommon, is often associated with serious underlying pathology. In one series of 210 cases [1], infection or neoplasia proved to be the underlying cause in more than 40% of patients younger than 12 years of age. After this age, there is a relative increase in non-specific causes of backache. Adolescent back pain is associated with decreased mobility of the lumbar spine and stiffness of the hip and knee joints [2]. Back pain in the adolescent age group is more common in girls and also exhibits a familial pattern [3]. During later adolescence, trauma, mechanical, and early degenerative disorders are more frequent causes of back pain, and serious pathology affects only a small proportion. © Springer-Verlag London Limited 2010.