Remember the differential diagnosis for Back Pain using the mnemonic DISK MASS.
DISK MASS
- Degeneration {DJD, Osteoporosis, Spondylosis}
- Infection {UTI, PID, Potts, Osteo, Prostatitis}
- +Injury/Fracture, compression fracture
- Spondylitis, Ankylosing
- +Spondyloarthropathies {Rheumatoid, Reiters, SLE}
- Kidney stones/infarction/infection {Pyelonephritis /abscess}
- Multiple Myeloma,
- +Metastasis from breast, prostate, lung, thyroid, kidney CA
- Aneurysm – Abdominal
- Slipped Disk, Spondylolisthesis, Spinal Stenosis
- Strain, Scoliosis/lordosis, Skin {Herpes Zoster}
Another mnemonic to remember the differential diagnosis for Back Pain is The MINOR.
- Trauma {Fractures, Herniated disc}
- Mechanical,
- +Metabolic {osteoporosis and osteosclerosis}
- Inflammatory {Ankylosing Spondylitis, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Psoriatic arthritis, Rheumatoid arthritis, Reactive arthritis},
- +Infection {Vertebral osteomyelitis, Spinal epidural abscess, Discitis, Meningitis, Lumbar arachnoiditis}
- Neurologic {Radiculopathy/nerve root injury, Spinal stenosis},
- +Neoplasms {Metastatic disease, multiple myeloma, Primary bone tumors}
- Other {Degenerative, spondylosis, Chronic pain syndrome, Conversion disorder, Malingering, Developmental}
- Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm,
- +Referred pain
Also, remember red flag signs in Back pain using the mnemonic TUNA FISH.
TUNA FISH
- Trauma
- Unexplained weight loss
- Neurologic symptoms
- Age > 50
- Fever
- IV drug use
- Steroid Use
- History of cancer
Hope that mnemonic helped. Got a better mnemonic for the same? Let us know in the comments below.
Also check out these medical mnemonics