Prevalence and causes of back pain syndromes in children

• Main Authors: A.A. Smirnova, O.L. Lapochkin, M.A. Lobov, M.N. Borisova
• Format: Article
• Language: Russian
• Published: IMA-PRESS LLC 2014-05-01
• Series: Nevrologiâ, Nejropsihiatriâ, Psihosomatika
• Subjects: back pain in children; prevalence; nosological and syndromal structure; original research data.
• Online Access: https://nnp.ima-press.net/nnp/article/view/381
• ISSN: 2074-2711; 2310-1342

We present a review of literature devoted to epidemiology, and the nosological and syndromal structure of back pain in children. The data of our own study of school-aged children with back pain are presented. The structure of back pain syndromes in 105 children has been analyzed using the medical aid appealability data. The results of a comprehensive clinical and instrumental study demonstrated that the children mostly had lumbosacral pain (52.4% of cases); neck pain was observed in 29.5% of cases; while thoracic pain syndromes were observed in 18.1% of cases. Congenital defect of the connective tissue was diagnosed in 16.19% of children; congenital abnormalities of the spine, in 15.2%; scoliosis (idiopathic and secondary), in 8.6%; and Scheuermann-Mau's disease, in 5.71%. The conclusion has been made about the high prevalence of back pain in schoolchildren. Muscular tonic syndromes were prevailing in the clinical structure in children; radicular syndromes were less frequent. Musculoskeletal disorders were the main causes of back pain. Congenital defect of the connective tissue was often observed, which was revealed as functional instability of the vertebral motor segment, spondylolisthesis due to weak ligaments, and disc protrusions. Congenital abnormalities of the spine, scoliosis, and Scheuermann-Mau' disease were observed less often.