Approach to chronic low back pain in a Rural Mission Hospital: An audit report

Abstract

Background: Challenging psychological and ergonomic burden demands a streamlined approach to Chronic low back pain (LBP) in rural population. Methodology: All patients with chronic LBP managed in the outpatient physiotherapy and occupational therapy clinic at the rural mission hospital from July 2015 to June 2016 were included in a retrospective chart audit. Patients' demographic data and diagnosis were statistically analyzed with t-test. Results: One hundred and fifty five patients were included in the study. 65 patients (42%) had mechanical LBP, 46 patients (30%) had chronic LBP with lumbar radiculopathy, 22 patients (14%) had discogenic chronic LBP, 15 patients (10%) had chronic LBP due to osteoporosis, 5 patients (3%) had chronic infective spondylitis and 2 patients (1%) had post-traumatic chronic LBP. 25 patients (16%) were less than 30 years old, 106 patients (68%) were between 30 and 60 years and 24 patients (16%) were older than 60 years. Higher incidence of mechanical chronic LBP was noted in younger group (t [129] = 1.36, P = 0.17) and higher incidence of chronic LBP with lumbar radiculopathy (t [129] =1.181, P = 0.239) was noted in middle aged patients, respectively. Gender prevalence of osteoporosis was statistically significant (t [153] =2.188, P = 0.03). Conclusion: Chronic LBP constituted 23% of all patients managed at the PT/OT outpatient clinic and mechanical chronic LBP was the most common diagnosis. Highest incidence of chronic LBP was noted in the middle aged 'working class' group of patients. Higher proportion of osteoporosis was detected among the female patients.

Keywords

• Chronic low back pain
• occupational therapy
• physiotherapy