Back strain and sprain (Smarty PANCE) Exam Questions and Answers 100% Correct

Back strain and sprain (Smarty PANCE) Exam Questions and Answers 100% Correct What is a back strain? Back strain (sprain of the ligaments of the cervical spine) is a common injury routinely seen in the emergency department (ED). A back strain is chiefly the result of a stretch injury to the muscular and ligamentous elements of the cervical, thoracic, or lumbar spine. What are the symptoms of a back strain? Generally presents with pain and/or stiffness with movement, difficulty bending, and no radicular symptoms Beyond the physical exam what additional testing should be performed in the evaluation of suspected back strain or sprain? Usually, if the duration of pain is short (< 4 to 6 weeks), no additional testing is required unless red flag findings are present, patients have had a serious injury (eg, vehicular crash, fall from a height, penetrating trauma), or evaluation suggests a specific nonmechanical cause What are some red flag that should be of particular concern in a patient presenting with back pain? Red Flags: Summary (Mnemonic: TUNA FISH, as an aid to documentation) T - Trauma U - Unexplained Weight Loss