The most common cause of low back pain in children occurs as a result of sportive difficulties and usually goes away with 1-2 weeks of rest. If back pain in childhood exceeds 4 weeks, it should be examined more seriously. Long-term low back pain in childhood may have more serious and more severe causes.
In the following cases, a serious reason should be sought under low back pain.
1. Pain that lasts longer than 4 weeks (despite rest)
2. if the pain is persistent, limiting the child’s activities
3. fever, cough, urinary and bowel changes, menstrual irregularity
4. pain if it spreads to one or both legs
5. if the preschool child has low back pain
6. if there has been a trauma such as a traffic accident or falling
7. if the night pain is evident
If there is one, the following examinations should be performed
1. Whole blood, sedimentation, CRP
2. X-ray of the waist and pelvis
3. If infection and tumor are suspected, Scintigraphy
4. MRI, computed tomography
The most common causes of low back pain in children are;
1. Trauma: Muscle strains, weight lifting, reverse movements, sports strains that pass within 1–2 weeks; More serious trauma can lead to spinal fractures.
2. Infection: Discitis (inflammation of the disc space) is common in preschool children, it starts suddenly, there is fever, and the pain increases in standing and sitting positions. If left untreated, it can cause osteomyelitis. It is diagnosed by scintigraphy, MRI and x-ray.
3. Spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis (slipped lumbar spine); It is more common in girls.
4. Scheurman’s disease; It is seen in later childhood and adolescence. There is flattening and hunching on the back. It is more common in men.
5. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis.
6. Bone tumors:
– osteoid osteoma
– osteoblastoma
– eosinophilic granuloma
– aneurysmal bone cyst
– leukemia
