Clinical medicine (London, England)
-
Falls in later life are a major health issue, both in terms of their injurious consequences and their significance as a diagnostic marker. Cost-effective measures for their assessment and prevention are well documented but insufficiently implemented. ⋯ Recommendations abstracted verbatim from the Guideline are highlighted. Explanatory or supporting comment is given as appropriate.
-
Gout, classically affecting the first metatarsal joints, knees, fingers and ears, is seldom thrown out as a differential when a patient complains of lower back pain. Symptoms presented by patients with spinal gout may be non-specific and varied; at times, the only clue being that the patient has a previous history of gout. ⋯ Therefore, it is vital for the treating physician to keep an open mind and consider spinal gout as a diagnosis once other sinister causes such as osteomyelitis have been ruled out. This greatly reduces the morbidity associated with late treatment of spinal gout.