Affiliations: [a] Section of Orthopedics and Traumatology, University of Messina, Messina, Italy | [b] Laboratory of Musculoskeletal Cell Biology, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, IRCCS, Bologna, Italy | [c] Anesthesia and Post-Operative Intensive Care, Rizzoli-Sicilia Department, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bagheria (Palermo), Italy | [d] General Orthopedic Surgery, Rizzoli-Sicilia Department, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, Bagheria (Palermo), Italy
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Cesare Faldini, Rizzoli-Sicilia Department, Rizzoli Orthopedic Institute, SS 113 al km 246 - 90011 Bagheria (Palermo), Italy. Tel.: +39 0919297069; Fax: +39 0919 297070; E-mail:[email protected]
Abstract: Low back pain is one of the four most common disorders in all regions, and
the greatest contributor to disability worldwide, adding 10.7% of total
years lost due to this health state. The etiology of chronic low back pain
is, in most of the cases (up to 85%), unknown or nonspecific, while the
specific causes (specific spinal pathology and neuropathic/radicular
disorders) are uncommon. Central sensitization has been recently recognized
as a potential pathophysiological mechanism underlying a group of chronic
pain conditions, and may be a contributory factor for a sub-group of
patients with chronic low back pain. The purposes of this narrative review
are twofold. First, to describe central sensitization and its symptoms and
signs in patients with chronic pain disorders in order to allow its
recognition in patients with nonspecific low back pain. Second, to provide
general treatment principles of chronic low back pain with particular
emphasis on pharmacotherapy targeting central sensitization.
Keywords: Chronic low back pain, chronic disorders, central sensitization
