55-YEAR -OLD MALE PRESENTING WITH ACUTE
LOWER BACK PAIN COMPREHENSIVE iHuman
Week#9 clinical case (class 6512 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A
2026|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the most common cause of acute low back pain in
adults?
A. Spinal tumor
B. Muscular strain or ligament sprain
C. Cauda equina syndrome
D. Vertebral fracture
Rationale: Most acute low back pain cases are mechanical in
nature, especially muscle or ligament strain.
Correct Answer: B. Muscular strain or ligament sprain
2. Which symptom is a red flag in acute low back pain?
A. Pain after lifting heavy object
B. Pain relieved by rest
C. Urinary incontinence
D. Pain worsens with movement
,Rationale: Bladder dysfunction suggests possible cauda equina
syndrome.
Correct Answer: C. Urinary incontinence
3. The first step in evaluating acute low back pain is:
A. MRI scan
B. Full neurological examination
C. Detailed history and physical examination
D. CT scan
Rationale: Most cases are diagnosed clinically first.
Correct Answer: C. Detailed history and physical examination
4. Which condition is most associated with sciatica?
A. Muscle strain
B. Herniated lumbar disc
C. Osteoporosis
D. Kidney infection
Rationale: Disc herniation compresses nerve roots causing
radiating pain.
Correct Answer: B. Herniated lumbar disc
5. Which finding suggests possible spinal infection?
,A. Fever with back pain
B. Pain after exercise
C. Morning stiffness only
D. Pain relieved by rest
Rationale: Infection often presents with systemic symptoms
like fever.
Correct Answer: A. Fever with back pain
6. Which nerve root is commonly affected in L5-S1 disc
herniation?
A. L1
B. L2
C. S1
D. T12
Rationale: L5-S1 herniation commonly compresses S1 nerve
root.
Correct Answer: C. S1
7. What is the most appropriate initial imaging for suspected
cauda equina syndrome?
A. X-ray
B. MRI
C. Ultrasound
D. Bone scan
, Rationale: MRI is gold standard for spinal cord compression.
Correct Answer: B. MRI
8. Which symptom is most concerning in low back pain?
A. Pain after lifting
B. Morning stiffness
C. Saddle anesthesia
D. Muscle soreness
Rationale: Saddle anesthesia indicates nerve compression
emergency.
Correct Answer: C. Saddle anesthesia
9. Which condition is most likely in elderly patients with
sudden back pain after minor trauma?
A. Muscle strain
B. Osteoporotic vertebral fracture
C. Herniated disc
D. Sciatica
Rationale: Osteoporosis increases fracture risk with minor
trauma.
Correct Answer: B. Osteoporotic vertebral fracture
10. Which laboratory test is most useful if infection is
suspected?
LOWER BACK PAIN COMPREHENSIVE iHuman
Week#9 clinical case (class 6512 QUESTIONS AND
CORRECT ANSWERS (VERIFIED ANSWERS) Q&A
2026|INSTANT DOWNLOAD PDF
1. What is the most common cause of acute low back pain in
adults?
A. Spinal tumor
B. Muscular strain or ligament sprain
C. Cauda equina syndrome
D. Vertebral fracture
Rationale: Most acute low back pain cases are mechanical in
nature, especially muscle or ligament strain.
Correct Answer: B. Muscular strain or ligament sprain
2. Which symptom is a red flag in acute low back pain?
A. Pain after lifting heavy object
B. Pain relieved by rest
C. Urinary incontinence
D. Pain worsens with movement
,Rationale: Bladder dysfunction suggests possible cauda equina
syndrome.
Correct Answer: C. Urinary incontinence
3. The first step in evaluating acute low back pain is:
A. MRI scan
B. Full neurological examination
C. Detailed history and physical examination
D. CT scan
Rationale: Most cases are diagnosed clinically first.
Correct Answer: C. Detailed history and physical examination
4. Which condition is most associated with sciatica?
A. Muscle strain
B. Herniated lumbar disc
C. Osteoporosis
D. Kidney infection
Rationale: Disc herniation compresses nerve roots causing
radiating pain.
Correct Answer: B. Herniated lumbar disc
5. Which finding suggests possible spinal infection?
,A. Fever with back pain
B. Pain after exercise
C. Morning stiffness only
D. Pain relieved by rest
Rationale: Infection often presents with systemic symptoms
like fever.
Correct Answer: A. Fever with back pain
6. Which nerve root is commonly affected in L5-S1 disc
herniation?
A. L1
B. L2
C. S1
D. T12
Rationale: L5-S1 herniation commonly compresses S1 nerve
root.
Correct Answer: C. S1
7. What is the most appropriate initial imaging for suspected
cauda equina syndrome?
A. X-ray
B. MRI
C. Ultrasound
D. Bone scan
, Rationale: MRI is gold standard for spinal cord compression.
Correct Answer: B. MRI
8. Which symptom is most concerning in low back pain?
A. Pain after lifting
B. Morning stiffness
C. Saddle anesthesia
D. Muscle soreness
Rationale: Saddle anesthesia indicates nerve compression
emergency.
Correct Answer: C. Saddle anesthesia
9. Which condition is most likely in elderly patients with
sudden back pain after minor trauma?
A. Muscle strain
B. Osteoporotic vertebral fracture
C. Herniated disc
D. Sciatica
Rationale: Osteoporosis increases fracture risk with minor
trauma.
Correct Answer: B. Osteoporotic vertebral fracture
10. Which laboratory test is most useful if infection is
suspected?
