Capillary resistance and back pain.

Abstract

A rapid clinical and epidemiological method of grading Capillary Resistance (CR) based on the appearance of petechiae following negative pressure on the skin of the forearm is described, and the results of testing 469 postmen aged 22 to 63 years are given. CR is shown to be increased in men who have had back pain within 24 hours of testing and no difference was found between men who had had back pain in the past and those who denied ever having had back pain. A separate series of 35 post-laminectomy patients examined at least 10 months after operation and who were shown to have disc disease at operation and/or on myelogram were found to have low CR. This work suggests that the changes involved in disc disease are not limited solely to the discs, but may involve collagen/elastic tissue or ground substance elsewhere as for example in this case when detectable in a test on the forearm. Secondly, it is suggested that CR grading could be a helpful discriminating test for 'disc disease' among those presenting with back pain of undetermined diagnosis.