Exploring Back Pain Characteristics: Insights From Hilla, Iraq

Objectives: The general concern about low back pain (LBP) necessitates thoroughly examining its various causes and feasible therapies. The current study investigated the causes and surgical treatments of back pain by tailoring treatments to the patient’s specific needs. Methods: Two hundred individuals with LBP have been enrolled in this cross-sectional research. The radiological, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images and clinical evaluations were completed by neurosurgeons and used to categorize the selected patients from those attending neurosurgical outpatient clinics. Multiple causes of LBP, including disk prolapse, spinal stenosis, and muscular spasms, were investigated. Detailed descriptions of surgical approaches for various stages of disk prolapse and stenosis were given to help decide the optimal surgical tactics. The data were compiled into an Excel sheet, and the percentages and numbers were sorted and computed appropriately. Results: The data present an extensive overview of the distribution pattern of back pain causes, disk prolapse, and spinal stenosis in the study community, along with the surgical procedures employed. Muscle spasms, disk prolapse, and spinal stenosis are the main causes of back pain (20%, 40%, and 13%, respectively). L5 and S1 are the most commonly involved in single-level disk prolapse (10%). Different spinal levels may have varying percentages of multiple-level disk prolapse (20%). There are multiple lumbar levels where spinal stenosis can occur, but the most common are L4 and L5 (20%). Distinct surgical approaches are employed for disk prolapse and stenosis at various levels of the spine, and the most frequent intervention was laminectomy in about 39% of total participants. Discussion: The study’s results demonstrate the complexity of the etiologies of back pain and the need for advanced surgical techniques. Particular emphasis is concentrated on spinal stenosis, including single- and multiple-level disk prolapse, and the relationship between surgical methods and causes. The study’s thorough comprehension is essential for tailored interventions based on patient traits, ultimately enhancing therapy and patient care.