Physicians use image diagnostics for back pain too often

According to the guideline, patients who suffer from acute pain in the back for the first time without any apparent cause should be examined at the earliest after six weeks by means of image diagnostic procedures. But many doctors do not always comply with this requirement. Every third patient underwent radiological diagnosis too early.

Many patients recover from acute back pain themselves. A radiological diagnosis is therefore not necessary at first. Unless there is a suspicion of vertebral fractures or bone metastases, or there are other warnings that require immediate action. The National Care Guideline provides for a six-week waiting period for low back pain. Only then, if the pain continues unabated, an imaging technique should be used.

Picture: romankosolapov - fotolia

An analysis of health insurance data now shows that in more than 90% of patients with first-time back pain without warnings, physicians initially did without a radiological examination. When the patients were referred to the radiologist, almost one-third of them were taken before the six-week waiting period had passed. Around 75% of these transfers took place within the first week.