Acute Low Back Problems in Adults
Self-Study Examination
Instructions: After studying the text answer the following true/false or multiple choice questions. Remember, there's only one answer to each question.
a) persists for more than 3 months b) is often progressive c) is mechanical in nature d) cause is difficult to determine
a) headache b) back pain c) neck pain d) sciatica
a) the seven cervical vertebrae b) the twelve thoracic vertebrae c) the five lumbar vertebrae d) the sacrum and coccyx
a) injury or trauma to the back b) arthritis c) osteoporosis d) viral infection
a) True b) False
a) x-ray imaging b) discography c) computerized tomography (CT) d) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) e) bone scan
a) ice and heat b) bed rest c) exercise d) medications
a) opioids b) surgery c) acupuncture d) ultrasound
a) alcoholism b) low back problems c) coronary artery disease d) mental distress
a) less than 3 days b) less than 1 week c) less than 3 months d) less than one year
a) acetaminophen b) nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) c) muscle relaxants d) opioids
a) unexplained weight loss b) age over 70 c) urinary infection d) back pain not improved with rest
a) herniated lumbar disc b) spinal stenosis c) myofascitis d) spondylolisthesis
a) exercise program b) put up with discomfort c) change the pace of activities d) surgery
a) more than 80 percent of patients eventually recover b) surgery benefits fewer than 40 percent of patients c) surgery increases the chance of future procedures with higher complication rates d) unacceptable degree of infection and bleeding due to surgery
a) electromyography "EMG" b) H-reflex test of the lower limb c) sensory evoked potentials "SEPs" d) all of the above
a) activity limitations for more than one month without improvement b) clear clinical or electrophysiological evidence of nerve root compromise c) collaborative findings on imaging studies d) all of the above
a) 1 percent b) 10 percent c) 20 percent d) 50 percent
a) serious spinal acology is detected b) nerve root dysfunction due to a herniated lumbar disc is detected c) the patient has had no improvement over 1 - 3 months d) A and B above
a) laminotomy b) microdiscectomy c) laminectomy d) all of the above
a) chemonucleolysis b) microdiscectomy c) percutaneous dyscectomy d) none of the above
a) pain or numbness that moves down the leg b) pain that worsens when supine c) severe night time pain d) major motor weakness, such as knee extension weakness
a) people in poor physical condition b) those whose work includes heavy labor c) those who are sitting or standing for long periods of time d) all of the above
a) reduce internal forces on the spine during forceful exertions of b) the back c) stiffen the spine, which may decrease forces on the spine d) restrict bending motions e) none of the above
a) history of cancer b) intravenous drug use c) back pain not improved with rest d) none of the above
a) it is invasive b) it may damage nerves or other tissues c) it is found ineffective d) it has to be repeated every six months making the patient dependent on it
a) avoid exercises such as walking, biking or swimming b) use back-specific exercise machines to strengthen back muscles c) participate in and gradually increase aerobic exercises d) stop exercising if the pain occurs
a) three lower leg muscles b) stomach muscles c) spinal cord and nerve roots d) thigh posterior
a) electromyography (EMG) b) H-reflex c) F-wave response d) all of the above
a) to document presence or absence of radiculopathy or neuropathy as the cause of symptoms in the lower extremities b) to provide more information on specific nerve roots that may be compromised c) to help differentiate between acute and chronic nerve root dysfunction d) all of the above
a) treatment of lower back problems with heat b) injections of radioisotope in the spine to assess any damage c) measuring small temperature differences between sides of the body and evaluating the patterns on infrared thermographic images d) treatment of low back problems with higher doses of radiation
a) are misleading b) do not show any defects in many patients c) do not show that an anatomic defect is actually the cause of symptoms d) all of the above
a) for all patients b) patients having suffered a recent trauma c) patients over the age of 70 d) all except (a)
a) detecting or defining spinal fractures b) diagnosing lumbar nerve root impingement of herniated disc c) diagnosing spinal stenosis d) all of the above
a) it can help select patients who ,would benefit from spinal fusions b) it promotes better treatment outcomes in patients with acute low back problems c) it is non-invasive d) it is less expensive that CT, myelography or MRI
a) sciatica is severe and disabling b) symptoms of sciatica persist c) there is clinical evidence of nerve root compromise d) one of the "red flags" is present
a) nerve root compression b) unrelieved sciatic pain c) degenerative condition affecting patients over age 60 d) positive "red flags"
a) persist for 3 months b) persist for at least one year c) recur intermittently d) appear in a young adult
a) trains the muscles that protects the back b) reduces employee absence and cost of disability insurance c) conditions the whole body d) stimulates the body to make its own powerful pain killers