Back Assessment Clinic (non-emergency low back pain)

Clear documentation of Red Flags (particularly objective findings) will assist with triaging and prioritisation of patients.

Patients presenting with:

• cord compression (hyperreflexia / gait abnormalities)
• cauda equina signs / symptoms (bladder/bowel dysfunction, saddle paraesthesia)
• severe or rapidly progressing neurological deficits, including acute foot drop
• spinal disorder with red flags indicating tumour or infection
• significant spinal trauma

should be referred urgently to Neurosurgery via the Emergency Department. Please call the Neurosurgery Registrar on-call to advise of the presenting patient and relevant history.

The aims of the clinic are to:

• assess for the presence of serious pathology as a cause of symptoms
• determine a need for surgical intervention and refer to Neurosurgery as required
• determine whether further investigations (with a view to an injection or surgical procedure) are required
• plan immediate and long-term management, including appropriate self-management strategies
• make onward referrals to other health providers as indicated (e.g. Persistent Pain Service or Community Physiotherapy

Exclusions:

Patients who are currently receiving management from other services for the same problem, including the Persistent Pain Service or Department of Neurosurgery, will not be offered appointments. BAC will accept patients transferring from the Neurosurgery waiting list.

Paediatric patients with LBP are not seen in BAC and should be referred to other services.

BAC is not currently resourced to see persistent neck/thoracic pain or acute spinal pain. These patients will be triaged and referred to the appropriate service. 

Please include relevant clinical history, any private investigation results and information on current neurological signs

Ask patients to bring current medication list and, if appropriate, any relevant imaging/ investigations.

Note: Additional imaging is not indicated unless there are neurological signs / other red flags or a history of trauma.

Prior to the first appointment, patients will be sent four questionnaires (linked below) to return to the clinic. Whilst not essential, referrers may wish to expedite this step by providing the questionnaires to their patient and assisting with the completion of them where necessary.

• MTAS - Backpain Assessment Clinic Patient Questionnaire
• Pain Self-efficacy Questionnaire
• Orebro Musculoskeletal Pain Questionnaire - Short
• Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire

For appointments in the South the questionnaires should be attached to the e-referral or returned to the Physiotherapy Department, Royal Hobart Hospital GPO Box 1061, Hobart Tas 7001

For appointments in the North or Northwest the questionnaires should be attached to the e-referral or returned to the Physiotherapy Department, Launceston General Hospital, 274-280 Charles Street, Launceston TAS 7250.

Clinic Appointments - Appointments are based on clinical priority, according to the referral information provided.

Urgent (Category 1)

We will endeavour to see these patients within 4 weeks.

Semi-urgent (Category 2)

We will endeavour to see these patients within 12 weeks.

Routine (Category 3)

Next available appointment.

Back Assessment Clinic Patient Information Brochure