An unusual cause of back pain in a young athlete

Abstract

Back pain in the young athlete is a common problem seen in many sport medicine clinics. Not only can this be a difficult problem for the physician to manage (due to inability to pinpoint the pathology), but it is a frustrating expenence for the athlete, unable to compete or train effectively. The sport medicine physician must, therefore, always be alert and ob sessed with obtaining a precise diagnosis to be followed by specific treatment. When presented with the adolescent athlete suffering with back pain, one must consider the full gamut of diagnostic possibilities. Mechanical or spondylogenic causes are most common; however, potentially more serious infective, meta bolic, and neoplastic conditions should also be considered.