Back Pain In Children : Never Ignore The Problem

Dr. Sabari Girish
Consultant – Orthopaedics & Spine Surgery
Aster Medcity, Kochi

Back pain is a very, very uncommon problem in children as their spines are relatively flexible compared to that of adults.So if your child complains of back pain or any related symptoms – especially if it aggravates after any physical or sports activity, make sure you seek immediate medical help.

Here are the symptoms you need to watch out for:

• Intense pain that affects the child’s sleep

• Pain radiating to legs

• Abnormality in walking

• Any weakness or numbness in the limbs

• Abnormalities in urinary / bowel habits

• Fever/ weight loss

• If the pain is associated with trauma/ injury (accident, fall etc.)

It is very important that the cause of back pain be identified and treated/ managed early to ensure the best possible outcome. The optimal course of treatment will be decided after a detailed evaluation of the condition, which may

include haematological and radiological investigations like CT or MRI.

Remember, not treating the child on time can lead to several potential complications, including disabilities.

Common causes of backache in children

• Muscle strain

• Muscle imbalance like tight hamstrings

• Weak abdominal muscles

• Postural kyphosis

• Scheuermann kyphosis

• Spondylolysis or stress fracture of spine

• Spoldylolisthesis or slipped vertebra

• Infection/ tuberculosis of the spine

• Primary tumour of spine that be either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous)