Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA.
Children and adolescents occasionally have back symptoms, but rarely come to a physician's office for more severe back pain. When a child or adolescent appears in the clinic with complaints of back pain, a careful detailed evaluation is appropriate. The incidence of findings in children with significant back pain is high; therefore, a detailed history, physical examination, and evaluation are needed. It is also legitimate to continue monitoring children even if no obvious cause is initially identified because often a diagnosis subsequently will be made.