TY - JOUR T1 - The significance of low back pain in older adults JF - Canadian Medical Association Journal JO - CMAJ SP - 898 LP - 900 VL - 115 IS - 9 AU - J. C. Fernbach AU - F. Langer AU - A. E. Gross Y1 - 1976/11/06 UR - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/115/9/898.abstract N2 - A retrospective study of the practice of an orthopedic surgeon at a university teaching hospital was done to evaluate the significance of low back pain in older adults. All 259 patients in a 3-year period 50 years of age and over whose presenting complaint was low back pain or sciatica or both were identified and classified by final diagnosis. A comparison was similarly identified and classified. Systemic disease, particularly cancer, was much more prevalent in the older group. It was demonstrated that a simple screening routine consisting of measuring the erythrocyte sedimentation rate and serum concentrations of alkaline phosphatase and calcium would identify all cases of unsuspected malignant disease--that is, at least one of the values would be abnormal in every case. ER -