A 13-year-old adolescent girl presented to the emergency department with low back pain of acute onset after bending forward. Lumbar spine radiographs were taken and found to be unremarkable, and the patient was referred to physical therapy. Following examination, the patient was referred to her physician for a suspected nonmechanical cause. Magnetic resonance imaging assessment revealed L3-4 discitis, with osteomyelitis extending into the adjacent right iliopsoas muscle. Further testing and bone biopsy confirmed osteomyelitis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2017;47(10):814. doi:10.2519/jospt.2017.6883.
Keywords: adolescent; low back pain; lumbar spine; magnetic resonance imaging; osteomyelitis; radiography.