• Brian N Corwell and Natalie L Davis.
• Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, 110 S. Paca Street, 6th Floor, Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA. Electronic address: bcorwell@som.umaryland.edu.
• Emerg. Med. Clin. North Am. 2020 Feb 1; 38 (1): 167-191.

AbstractNeck and back pain are among the most common symptom-related complaints for visits to the emergency department (ED). They contribute to high levels of lost work days, disability, and health care use. The goal of ED assessment of patients with neck and back pain is to evaluate for potentially dangerous causes that could result in significant morbidity and mortality. This article discusses the efficient and effective evaluation, management, and treatment of patients with neck and back pain in the ED. Emphasis is placed on vertebral osteomyelitis, epidural abscess, acute transverse myelitis, epidural compression syndrome, spinal malignancy, and spinal stenosis.Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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