Low back pain in pediatrics: Is it always a trivial matter?

Abstract

Low back pain is a frequent pathology in children and adolescents. The prognosis is usually favorable. There are patients who have chronic or progressive pain or assocciated
with other symptoms that require a different approach. Ruling out organic pathology in these patients is needed.
We report the case of a 11-year-old athlete girl with acute onset low back pain associated with neurological symptoms such paresthesias in the lower extemities. Bilateral spondylolysis
with spondylolisthesis was evidenced in the lateral radiograph of the spine and in the magnetic nuclear resonance. By the clinic and disease progression was decided to
perform surgical spinal fixation with good outcome.
Spondylolysis with or without associated spondylolisthesis is a common cause of back pain in children and adolescent athletes. This condition must be studied when addressing
pediatric patients with low back pain (LBP), specially in cases with clinical signs of possible organic cause.