Specialty Focused Recordings: Spine-Management Of Non-Operative Spine Injuries

Video Transcription

Video Summary

Ebony Green’s session reviewed assessment and nonoperative management of spine pain and injuries. She emphasized prevention through good posture, safe lifting, movement breaks, exercise, and adequate sleep. Assessment should combine symptom history, observed function and neurologic examination, and imaging when indicated. Red flags include weakness, gait changes, bowel or bladder dysfunction, falls, cancer history, and signs of spinal cord compression or myelopathy; these warrant further evaluation or referral.<br /><br />For low-back and neck pain, treatment is individualized and generally begins with conservative measures: appropriate analgesics or anti-inflammatory medications, muscle relaxants, physical therapy and core strengthening, activity modification, and selected complementary approaches. Bracing may help some fractures but requires clear instructions to prevent overuse and muscle weakness. Trigger-point and epidural steroid injections can provide temporary relief for selected patients, but require consideration of risks, comorbidities, and response to prior treatment. Surgery is considered when symptoms and functional limitations persist despite appropriate nonoperative care, or when concerning neurologic findings are present.<br /><br />Green also stressed identifying the likely pain generator, setting realistic expectations, and supporting patient adherence. In the discussion, she described psychological and medical optimization as part of surgical preparation and cautioned against repeated or prolonged steroid use.

Keywords

spine pain

nonoperative management

red flags

neurologic exam

physical therapy

low back pain

epidural steroid injection

bracing

spinal surgery