Vascular backache and consideration of its pathomechanisms: report of two cases

J Spinal Disord. 1999 Apr;12(2):162-7.

Abstract

We experienced two cases whose low back pain was improved after vascular reconstructive surgery for arteriosclerosis obliterans in the abdominal cavity. Based on these observations, we propose the term "vascular backache" and we discuss possible pathomechanisms underlying this condition. One patient had a stenotic lesion in the lower abdominal aorta and was operated transluminally; the other patient had a diffuse stenotic lesion from the abdominal aorta to the femoral arteries and had an axillofemoral bypass operation. After surgery, they experienced a reduction of backache along with an improvement of the vascular intermittent claudication. It is suggested that one factor leading to low back pain in some cases might be various degrees of ischemia of the extensor muscles in the lumbar spine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Angiography
  • Aorta, Abdominal* / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / complications*
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / diagnostic imaging
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / surgery
  • Aortic Valve Stenosis / therapy
  • Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / complications*
  • Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / diagnostic imaging
  • Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / surgery
  • Arteriosclerosis Obliterans / therapy
  • Blood Vessel Prosthesis Implantation
  • Catheterization
  • Humans
  • Low Back Pain / diagnostic imaging
  • Low Back Pain / etiology*
  • Low Back Pain / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myelography