Spinal disorders in childhood I: painful disorders

Back pain and spinal deformity are the most common presenting complaints of spinal disorders in childhood seen in a specialist orthopaedic spinal clinic. Many of the patients referred will have non-specific back pain, yet there are a multitude of significant and sinister pathologies of the spine along with extraspinal causes that should be considered and sought. Similarly most deformities will be either minor or idiopathic, yet specific underlying causes need to be excluded. The cornerstone of safe practice is a detailed, thorough and targeted history and examination. This article focuses on painful disorders.